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Hao M, Zhong K, Bai X, Wu S, Li L, He Y, Wang Z, Sun X, Wang Q, Guo Y, Sun Y, Wu L. Upregulated Tβ4 expression in inflammatory bowel disease impairs the intestinal mucus barrier by inhibiting autophagy in mice. Exp Cell Res 2024; 434:113871. [PMID: 38049080 DOI: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2023.113871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2023] [Revised: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 12/06/2023]
Abstract
Disrupted intestinal barrier homeostasis is fundamental to inflammatory bowel disease. Thymosin β4 (Tβ4) improves inflammation and has beneficial effects in dry-eye diseases, but its effects on the intestinal mucus barrier remain unknown. Therefore, this study evaluated the underlying regulatory mechanisms and effects of Tβ4 by examining Tβ4 expression in a mouse model with dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis and colonic barrier damage. Additionally, we intraperitoneally injected C57BL/6 mice with Tβ4 to assess barrier function, microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3II) protein expression, and autophagy. Finally, normal human colon tissue and colon carcinoma cells (Caco2) were cultured to verify Tβ4-induced barrier function and autophagy changes. Mucin2 levels decreased, microbial infiltration increased, and Tβ4 expression increased in the colitis mouse model versus the control mice, indicating mucus barrier damage. Moreover, Tβ4-treated C57BL/6 mice had damaged intestinal mucus barriers and decreased LC3II levels. Tβ4 also inhibited colonic mucin2 production, disrupted tight junctions, and downregulated autophagy; these results were confirmed in Caco2 cells and normal human colon tissue. In summary, Tβ4 may be implicated in colitis by compromising the integrity of the intestinal mucus barrier and inhibiting autophagy. Thus, Tβ4 could be a new diagnostic marker for intestinal barrier defects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Menghao Hao
- School of Medicine, Southwest Jiaotong University, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Jiaotong University, The Third People's Hospital of Chengdu, Chengdu, 610031, China; Department of Gastroenterology, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Jiaotong University, The Third People's Hospital of Chengdu, Chengdu, 610031, China
| | - Ke Zhong
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Jiaotong University, The Third People's Hospital of Chengdu, Chengdu, 610031, China
| | - Xiaoqin Bai
- Medical Research Center, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Jiaotong University, The Third People's Hospital of Chengdu, Chengdu, 610031, China
| | - Shiyan Wu
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, China
| | - Lu Li
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, China
| | - Yumei He
- North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, 637000, China
| | - Zhiming Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Jiaotong University, The Third People's Hospital of Chengdu, Chengdu, 610031, China
| | - Xiaobin Sun
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Jiaotong University, The Third People's Hospital of Chengdu, Chengdu, 610031, China
| | - Qiong Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Jiaotong University, The Third People's Hospital of Chengdu, Chengdu, 610031, China
| | - Yuanbiao Guo
- Medical Research Center, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Jiaotong University, The Third People's Hospital of Chengdu, Chengdu, 610031, China
| | - Yueshan Sun
- Medical Research Center, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Jiaotong University, The Third People's Hospital of Chengdu, Chengdu, 610031, China.
| | - Liping Wu
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Jiaotong University, The Third People's Hospital of Chengdu, Chengdu, 610031, China.
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Munshaw S, Redpath AN, Pike BT, Smart N. Thymosin β4 preserves vascular smooth muscle phenotype in atherosclerosis via regulation of low density lipoprotein related protein 1 (LRP1). Int Immunopharmacol 2023; 115:109702. [PMID: 37724952 PMCID: PMC10666903 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2023.109702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 12/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Atherosclerosis is a progressive, degenerative vascular disease and a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. In response to endothelial damage, platelet derived growth factor (PDGF)-BB induced phenotypic modulation of medial smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) promotes atherosclerotic lesion formation and destabilisation of the vessel wall. VSMC sensitivity to PDGF-BB is determined by endocytosis of Low density lipoprotein receptor related protein 1 (LRP1)-PDGFR β complexes to balance receptor recycling with lysosomal degradation. Consequently, LRP1 is implicated in various arterial diseases. Having identified Tβ4 as a regulator of LRP1-mediated endocytosis to protect against aortic aneurysm, we sought to determine whether Tβ4 may additionally function to protect against atherosclerosis, by regulating LRP1-mediated growth factor signalling. By single cell transcriptomic analysis, Tmsb4x, encoding Tβ4, strongly correlated with contractile gene expression and was significantly down-regulated in cells that adopted a modulated phenotype in atherosclerosis. We assessed susceptibility to atherosclerosis of global Tβ4 knockout mice using the ApoE-/- hypercholesterolaemia model. Inflammation, elastin integrity, VSMC phenotype and signalling were analysed in the aortic root and descending aorta. Tβ4KO; ApoE-/- mice develop larger atherosclerotic plaques than control mice, with medial layer degeneration characterised by accelerated VSMC phenotypic modulation. Defects in Tβ4KO; ApoE-/- mice phenocopied those in VSMC-specific LRP1 nulls and, moreover, were underpinned by hyperactivated LRP1-PDGFRβ signalling. We identify an atheroprotective role for endogenous Tβ4 in maintaining differentiated VSMC phenotype via LRP1-mediated PDGFRβ signalling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonali Munshaw
- Burdon Sanderson Cardiac Science Centre, Department of Physiology, Anatomy & Genetics, University of Oxford, Sherrington Building, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PT, UK
| | - Andia N Redpath
- Burdon Sanderson Cardiac Science Centre, Department of Physiology, Anatomy & Genetics, University of Oxford, Sherrington Building, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PT, UK; Institute of Developmental and Regenerative Medicine, University of Oxford, IMS-Tetsuya Nakamura Building, Old Road Campus, Oxford OX3 7TY, UK
| | - Benjamin T Pike
- Burdon Sanderson Cardiac Science Centre, Department of Physiology, Anatomy & Genetics, University of Oxford, Sherrington Building, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PT, UK
| | - Nicola Smart
- Burdon Sanderson Cardiac Science Centre, Department of Physiology, Anatomy & Genetics, University of Oxford, Sherrington Building, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PT, UK; Institute of Developmental and Regenerative Medicine, University of Oxford, IMS-Tetsuya Nakamura Building, Old Road Campus, Oxford OX3 7TY, UK.
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Parvin S, Arabfard M, Ghazvini A, Ghanei M, Najafi A. Comparative proteomic analysis of mustard lung as a complicated disease using systems biology approach. BMC Pulm Med 2022; 22:437. [PMID: 36419000 PMCID: PMC9686120 DOI: 10.1186/s12890-022-02240-3] [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: 07/25/2022] [Accepted: 11/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
During Iraq-Iran conflict, chemical weapons, particularly SM gas, were used numerous times, whose aftereffects are still present. This study aimed to compare serum proteome in the chronic ML (n = 10) and HC (n = 10). TMT label-based quantitative proteomics was used to examine serums from two groups. Among total significant proteins, 14 proteins were upregulated (log2 ≥ FC 0.5, p 0.05), and 6 proteins were downregulated (log2 ≤ FC - 0.5, p 0.05). By helping PPI network, and EA, 11 main pathways connected to significantly different protein expression levels were discovered, including inflammatory and cell adhesion signaling pathways. It may be deduced that the wounded organs of exposed individuals experience poor repair cycles of cell degeneration and regeneration because certain repair signals were elevated while other structural and adhesion molecules were downregulated. The systems biology approach can help enhance our basic knowledge of biological processes, and contribute to a deeper understanding of pathophysiological mechanisms, as well as the identification of potential biomarkers of disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shahram Parvin
- grid.420169.80000 0000 9562 2611Education Office, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Masoud Arabfard
- grid.411521.20000 0000 9975 294XChemical Injuries Research Center, Systems Biology and Poisonings Institute, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ali Ghazvini
- grid.411521.20000 0000 9975 294XChemical Injuries Research Center, Systems Biology and Poisonings Institute, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mostafa Ghanei
- grid.411521.20000 0000 9975 294XChemical Injuries Research Center, Systems Biology and Poisonings Institute, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ali Najafi
- grid.411521.20000 0000 9975 294XMolecular Biology Research Center, Systems Biology and Poisonings Institute, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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Abdel-Raouf KMA, Rezgui R, Stefanini C, Teo JCM, Christoforou N. Transdifferentiation of Human Fibroblasts into Skeletal Muscle Cells: Optimization and Assembly into Engineered Tissue Constructs through Biological Ligands. BIOLOGY 2021; 10:biology10060539. [PMID: 34208436 PMCID: PMC8235639 DOI: 10.3390/biology10060539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2021] [Revised: 05/27/2021] [Accepted: 05/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary Engineered human skeletal muscle tissue is a platform tool that can help scientists and physicians better understand human physiology, pharmacology, and disease modeling. Over the past few years this area of research has been actively being pursued by many labs worldwide. Significant challenges remain, including accessing an adequate cell source, and achieving proper physiological-like architecture of the engineered tissue. To address cell resourcing we aimed at further optimizing a process called transdifferentiation which involves the direct conversion of fibroblasts into skeletal muscle cells. The opportunity here is that fibroblasts are readily available and can be expanded sufficiently to meet the needs of a tissue engineering approach. Additionally, we aimed to demonstrate the applicability of transdifferentiation in assembling tissue engineered skeletal muscle. We implemented a screening process of protein ligands in an effort to refine transdifferentiation, and identified that most proteins resulted in a deficit in transdifferentiation efficiency, although one resulted in robust expansion of cultured cells. We were also successful in assembling engineered constructs consisting of transdifferentiated cells. Future directives involve demonstrating that the engineered tissues are capable of contractile and functional activity, and pursuit of optimizing factors such as electrical and chemical exposure, towards achieving physiological parameters observed in human muscle. Abstract The development of robust skeletal muscle models has been challenging due to the partial recapitulation of human physiology and architecture. Reliable and innovative 3D skeletal muscle models recently described offer an alternative that more accurately captures the in vivo environment but require an abundant cell source. Direct reprogramming or transdifferentiation has been considered as an alternative. Recent reports have provided evidence for significant improvements in the efficiency of derivation of human skeletal myotubes from human fibroblasts. Herein we aimed at improving the transdifferentiation process of human fibroblasts (tHFs), in addition to the differentiation of murine skeletal myoblasts (C2C12), and the differentiation of primary human skeletal myoblasts (HSkM). Differentiating or transdifferentiating cells were exposed to single or combinations of biological ligands, including Follistatin, GDF8, FGF2, GDF11, GDF15, hGH, TMSB4X, BMP4, BMP7, IL6, and TNF-α. These were selected for their critical roles in myogenesis and regeneration. C2C12 and tHFs displayed significant differentiation deficits when exposed to FGF2, BMP4, BMP7, and TNF-α, while proliferation was significantly enhanced by FGF2. When exposed to combinations of ligands, we observed consistent deficit differentiation when TNF-α was included. Finally, our direct reprogramming technique allowed for the assembly of elongated, cross-striated, and aligned tHFs within tissue-engineered 3D skeletal muscle constructs. In conclusion, we describe an efficient system to transdifferentiate human fibroblasts into myogenic cells and a platform for the generation of tissue-engineered constructs. Future directions will involve the evaluation of the functional characteristics of these engineered tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khaled M. A. Abdel-Raouf
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi 127788, United Arab Emirates;
- Department of Biology, American University in Cairo, New Cairo 11835, Egypt
- Correspondence: (K.M.A.A.-R.); (N.C.)
| | - Rachid Rezgui
- Core Technology Platforms, New York University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi 129188, United Arab Emirates;
| | - Cesare Stefanini
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi 127788, United Arab Emirates;
- Healthcare Engineering Innovation Center, Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi 127788, United Arab Emirates
| | - Jeremy C. M. Teo
- Department of Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering, New York University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi 129188, United Arab Emirates;
| | - Nicolas Christoforou
- Pfizer Inc., Rare Disease Research Unit, 610 Main Street, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Correspondence: (K.M.A.A.-R.); (N.C.)
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Utilizing Developmentally Essential Secreted Peptides Such as Thymosin Beta-4 to Remind the Adult Organs of Their Embryonic State-New Directions in Anti-Aging Regenerative Therapies. Cells 2021; 10:cells10061343. [PMID: 34071596 PMCID: PMC8228050 DOI: 10.3390/cells10061343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2021] [Revised: 05/07/2021] [Accepted: 05/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Our dream of defeating the processes of aging has occupied the curious and has challenged scientists globally for hundreds of years. The history is long, and sadly, the solution is still elusive. Our endeavors to reverse the magnitude of damaging cellular and molecular alterations resulted in only a few, yet significant advancements. Furthermore, as our lifespan increases, physicians are facing more mind-bending questions in their routine practice than ever before. Although the ultimate goal is to successfully treat the body as a whole, steps towards regenerating individual organs are even considered significant. As our initial approach to enhance the endogenous restorative capacity by delivering exogenous progenitor cells appears limited, we propose, utilizing small molecules critical during embryonic development may prove to be a powerful tool to increase regeneration and to reverse the processes associated with aging. In this review, we introduce Thymosin beta-4, a 43aa secreted peptide fulfilling our hopes and capable of numerous regenerative achievements via systemic administration in the heart. Observing the broad capacity of this small, secreted peptide, we believe it is not the only molecule which nature conceals to our benefit. Hence, the discovery and postnatal administration of developmentally relevant agents along with other approaches may result in reversing the aging process.
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Recombinant Human Thymosin Beta-4 Protects against Mouse Coronavirus Infection. Mediators Inflamm 2021; 2021:9979032. [PMID: 33967626 PMCID: PMC8081638 DOI: 10.1155/2021/9979032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2021] [Revised: 03/25/2021] [Accepted: 03/31/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Coronaviruses (CoVs) are enveloped and harbor an unusually large (30-32 kb) positive-strand linear RNA genome. Highly pathogenic coronaviruses cause severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) (SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) (MERS-CoV) in humans. The coronavirus mouse hepatitis virus (MHV) infects mice and serves as an ideal model of viral pathogenesis, mainly because experiments can be conducted using animal-biosafety level-2 (A-BSL2) containment. Human thymosin beta-4 (Tβ4), a 43-residue peptide with an acetylated N-terminus, is widely expressed in human tissues. Tβ4 regulates actin polymerization and functions as an anti-inflammatory molecule and an antioxidant as well as a promoter of wound healing and angiogenesis. These activities led us to test whether Tβ4 serves to treat coronavirus infections of humans. To test this possibility, here, we established a BALB/c mouse model of coronavirus infection using mouse CoV MHV-A59 to evaluate the potential protective effect of recombinant human Tβ4 (rhTβ4). Such a system can be employed under A-BSL2 containment instead of A-BSL3 that is required to study coronaviruses infectious for humans. We found that rhTβ4 significantly increased the survival rate of mice infected with MHV-A59 through inhibiting virus replication, balancing the host's immune response, alleviating pathological damage, and promoting repair of the liver. These results will serve as the basis for further application of rhTβ4 to the treatment of human CoV diseases such as COVID-19.
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Ectopic Expression of Human Thymosin β4 Confers Resistance to Legionella pneumophila during Pulmonary and Systemic Infection in Mice. Infect Immun 2021; 89:IAI.00735-20. [PMID: 33468581 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00735-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2020] [Accepted: 12/23/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Thymosin beta-4 (Tβ4) is an actin-sequestering peptide that plays important roles in regeneration and remodeling of injured tissues. However, its function in a naturally occurring pathogenic bacterial infection model has remained elusive. We adopted Tβ4-overexpressing transgenic (Tg) mice to investigate the role of Tβ4 in acute pulmonary infection and systemic sepsis caused by Legionella pneumophila Upon infection, Tβ4-Tg mice demonstrated significantly lower bacterial loads in the lung, less hyaline membranes and necrotic abscess, with lower interstitial infiltration of neutrophils, CD4+, and CD8+ T cells. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of Tβ4-Tg mice possessed higher bactericidal activity against exogenously added L. pneumophila, suggesting that constitutive expression of Tβ4 could efficiently control L. pneumophila Furthermore, qPCR analysis of lung homogenates demonstrated significant reduction of interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), which primarily originate from lung macrophages, in Tβ4-Tg mice after pulmonary infection. Upon L. pneumophila challenge of bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDM) in vitro, secretion of IL-1β and TNF-α proteins was also reduced in Tβ4-Tg macrophages, without affecting their survival. The anti-inflammatory effects of BMDM in Tβ4-Tg mice on each cytokine were affected when triggering with tlr2, tlr4, tlr5, or tlr9 ligands, suggesting that anti-inflammatory effects of Tβ4 are likely mediated by the reduced activation of Toll-like receptors (TLR). Finally, Tβ4-Tg mice in a systemic sepsis model were protected from L. pneumophila-induced lethality compared to wild-type controls. Therefore, Tβ4 confers effective resistance against L. pneumophila via two pathways, a bactericidal and an anti-inflammatory pathway, which can be harnessed to treat acute pneumonia and septic conditions caused by L. pneumophila in humans.
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Desiderio C, Rossetti DV, Castagnola M, Massimi L, Tamburrini G. Adamantinomatous craniopharyngioma: advances in proteomic research. Childs Nerv Syst 2021; 37:789-797. [PMID: 32617710 DOI: 10.1007/s00381-020-04750-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2020] [Accepted: 06/16/2020] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Many efforts have been performed in the last decade to accomplish the genomic and proteomic characterization of pediatric adamantinomatous craniopharyngioma with the purpose to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying the onset and development of this pediatric brain tumor, its high recurrence rate, and, although classified as a histologically benign neoplasm, its aggressive behavior. METHODS The focus of this review is to perform the new comparison of the proteomic profiles of the solid component and the intracystic fluid of adamantinomatous craniopharyngioma based on our previous results, obtained by both the top-down and the bottom-up proteomic approaches, to disclose differences and similarities, and to discuss the results in the context of the most recent literature. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS Proteins and peptides identified in the cyst fluid and in the solid component of adamantinomatous craniopharyngioma (AC) include beyond markers of inflammation (i.e., alpha-defensins), proteins involved in cell migration and protein degradation (i.e., beta-thymosin and ubiquitin peptides), whose main role might be in tumor growth and infiltration of the surrounding neural structures. These last appeared different in the solid components compared with the cyst fluid, missing their terminal part in the solid tissue, a feature generally associated to malignancies, which might represent a distinct molecular site for an aggressive behavior of AC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Desiderio
- Istituto di Scienze e Tecnologie Chimiche "Giulio Natta", Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Largo F. Vito 1, 00168, Rome, Italy.
| | - Diana Valeria Rossetti
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biotecnologiche di Base, Cliniche Intensivologiche e Perioperatorie, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168, Rome, Italy.,Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168, Rome, Italy
| | - Massimo Castagnola
- Laboratorio di Proteomica, Centro Europeo di Ricerca sul Cervello, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy
| | - Luca Massimi
- UOC Neurochirurgia Infantile, Dipartimento di Scienze dell'Invecchiamento, Neurologiche, Ortopediche e della Testa-Collo; Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli - IRCCS, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Largo Gemelli 1, 00168, Rome, Italy
| | - Gianpiero Tamburrini
- UOC Neurochirurgia Infantile, Dipartimento di Scienze dell'Invecchiamento, Neurologiche, Ortopediche e della Testa-Collo; Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli - IRCCS, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Largo Gemelli 1, 00168, Rome, Italy.
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Bjørklund G, Dadar M, Aaseth J, Chirumbolo S. Thymosin β4: A Multi-Faceted Tissue Repair Stimulating Protein in Heart Injury. Curr Med Chem 2021; 27:6294-6305. [PMID: 31333080 DOI: 10.2174/0929867326666190716125456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2019] [Revised: 07/01/2019] [Accepted: 07/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Thymosin Beta-4 (Tβ4) is known as a major pleiotropic actin-sequestering protein that is involved in tumorigenesis. Tβ4 is a water-soluble protein that has different promising clinical applications in the remodeling and ulcerated tissues repair following myocardial infarction, stroke, plasticity and neurovascular remodeling of the Peripheral Nervous System (PNS) and the Central Nervous System (CNS). On the other hand, similar effects have been observed for Tβ4 in other kinds of tissues, including cardiac muscle tissue. In recent reports, as it activates resident epicardial progenitor cells and modulates inflammatory-caused injuries, Tβ4 has been suggested as a promoter of the survival of cardiomyocytes. Furthermore, Tβ4 may act in skeletal muscle and different organs in association/synergism with numerous other tissue repair stimulating factors, including melatonin and C-fiber-derived peptides. For these reasons, the present review highlights the promising role of Tβ4 in cardiac healing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geir Bjørklund
- Council for Nutritional and Environmental Medicine, Mo i Rana, Norway
| | - Maryam Dadar
- Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Karaj, Iran
| | - Jan Aaseth
- Research Department, Innlandet Hospital Trust, Brumunddal, Norway,Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, Elverum, Norway
| | - Salvatore Chirumbolo
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences,
University of Verona, Verona, Italy
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Keith AR, Twaroski K, Ebens CL, Tolar J. Leading edge: emerging drug, cell, and gene therapies for junctional epidermolysis bullosa. Expert Opin Biol Ther 2020; 20:911-923. [PMID: 32178539 PMCID: PMC7392816 DOI: 10.1080/14712598.2020.1740678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2020] [Accepted: 03/06/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Junctional epidermolysis bullosa (JEB) is a rare inherited genetic disorder with limited treatments beyond palliative care. A major hallmark of JEB is skin blistering caused by functional loss or complete absence of major structural proteins of the skin. Impaired wound healing in patients with JEB gives rise to chronic cutaneous ulcers that require daily care. Wound care and infection control are the current standard of care for this patient population. AREAS COVERED This review covers research and clinical implementation of emerging drug, cell, and gene therapies for JEB. Current clinical trials use topical drug delivery to manipulate the inflammation and re-epithelialization phases of wound healing or promote premature stop codon readthrough to accelerate chronic wound closure. Allogeneic cell therapies for JEB have been largely unsuccessful, with autologous skin grafting emerging as a reliable method of resolving the cutaneous manifestations of JEB. Genetic correction and transplant of autologous keratinocytes have demonstrated persistent amelioration of chronic wounds in a subset of patients. EXPERT OPINION Emerging therapies address the cutaneous symptoms of JEB but are unable to attend to systemic manifestations of the disease. Investigations into the molecular mechanism(s) underpinning the failure of systemic allogeneic cell therapies are necessary to expand the range of effective JEB therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allison R. Keith
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Blood and Marrow Transplantation, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
- Stem Cell Institute, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Kirk Twaroski
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Blood and Marrow Transplantation, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
- Stem Cell Institute, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Christen L. Ebens
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Blood and Marrow Transplantation, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Jakub Tolar
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Blood and Marrow Transplantation, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
- Stem Cell Institute, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
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Liu H, Jeffery CJ. Moonlighting Proteins in the Fuzzy Logic of Cellular Metabolism. Molecules 2020; 25:molecules25153440. [PMID: 32751110 PMCID: PMC7435893 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25153440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2020] [Revised: 07/09/2020] [Accepted: 07/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The numerous interconnected biochemical pathways that make up the metabolism of a living cell comprise a fuzzy logic system because of its high level of complexity and our inability to fully understand, predict, and model the many activities, how they interact, and their regulation. Each cell contains thousands of proteins with changing levels of expression, levels of activity, and patterns of interactions. Adding more layers of complexity is the number of proteins that have multiple functions. Moonlighting proteins include a wide variety of proteins where two or more functions are performed by one polypeptide chain. In this article, we discuss examples of proteins with variable functions that contribute to the fuzziness of cellular metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haipeng Liu
- Center for Biomolecular Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Illinois at Chicago, 900 South Ashland Avenue, Chicago, IL 60607, USA;
| | - Constance J. Jeffery
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, 900 South Ashland Avenue, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-312-996-3168
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12
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Zhang GH, Murthy KD, Binti Pare R, Qian YH. Protective effect of Tβ4 on central nervous system tissues and its developmental prospects. EUR J INFLAMM 2020. [DOI: 10.1177/2058739220934559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Tissue repair and regeneration in the central nervous system (CNS) remains a serious medical problem. CNS diseases such as traumatic and neurological brain injuries have a high mortality and disability rate, thereby bringing a considerable amount of economic burden to society and families. How to treat traumatic and neurological brain injuries has always been a serious issue faced by neurosurgeons. The global incidence of traumatic and neurological brain injuries has gradually increased and become a global challenge. Thymosin β4 (Tβ4) is the main G-actin variant molecule in eukaryotic cells. During the development of the CNS, Tβ4 regulates neurogenesis, tangential expansion, tissue growth, and cerebral hemisphere folding. In addition, Tβ4 has anti-apoptotic and anti-inflammatory properties. It promotes angiogenesis, wound healing, stem/progenitor cell differentiation, and other characteristics of cell migration and survival, providing a scientific basis for the repair and regeneration of injured nerve tissue. This review provides evidence to support the role of Tβ4 in the protection and repair of nervous tissue in CNS diseases, especially with the potential to control brain inflammatory processes, and thus open up new therapeutic applications for a series of neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gui-hong Zhang
- School of Medicine, Xi’an International University, Xi’an, China
- Department of Biomedical Science and Therapeutic, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FPSK), Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia
| | - Krishna Dilip Murthy
- Department of Biomedical Science and Therapeutic, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FPSK), Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia
| | - Rahmawati Binti Pare
- Department of Biomedical Science and Therapeutic, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FPSK), Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia
| | - Yi-hua Qian
- Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi’an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi’an, China
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13
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Chen W, Jia S, Zhang X, Zhang S, Liu H, Yang X, Zhang C, Wu W. Dimeric Thymosin β4 Loaded Nanofibrous Interface Enhanced Regeneration of Muscular Artery in Aging Body through Modulating Perivascular Adipose Stem Cell-Macrophage Interaction. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2020; 7:1903307. [PMID: 32328425 PMCID: PMC7175290 DOI: 10.1002/advs.201903307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2019] [Revised: 02/18/2020] [Accepted: 02/24/2020] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Regenerating nonthrombotic and compliant artery, especially in the aging body, remains a major surgical challenge, mainly owing to the inadequate knowledge of the major cell sources contributing to arterial regeneration and insufficient bioactivity of delivered peptides in grafts. Ultrathin nanofibrous sheaths stented with biodegrading elastomer present opening channels and reduced material residue, enabling fast cell recruitment and host remodeling, while incorporating peptides offering developmental cues are challenging. In this study, a recombinant human thymosin β4 dimer (DTβ4) that contains two complete Tβ4 molecules is produced. The adult perivascular adipose is found as the dominant source of vascular progenitors which, when stimulated by the DTβ4-loaded nanofibrous sheath, enables 100% patency rates, near-complete structural as well as adequate functional regeneration of artery, and effectively ameliorates aging-induced defective regeneration. As compared with Tβ4, DTβ4 exhibits durable regenerative activity including recruiting more progenitors for endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells, when incorporated into the ultrathin polycaprolactone sheath. Moreover, the DTβ4-loaded interface promotes smooth muscle cells differentiation, mainly through promoting M2 macrophage polarization and chemokines. Incorporating artificial DTβ4 into ultrathin sheaths of fast degrading vascular grafts creates an effective interface for sufficient muscular remodeling thus offering a robust tool for vessel replacement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wanli Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Military Stomatology & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases & Shaanxi Key Laboratory of StomatologyDepartment of Oral & Maxillofacial SurgerySchool of Stomatologythe Fourth Military Medical UniversityXi'anShaanxiChina
| | - Sansan Jia
- State Key Laboratory of Military Stomatology & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases & Shaanxi Key Laboratory of StomatologyDepartment of Oral & Maxillofacial SurgerySchool of Stomatologythe Fourth Military Medical UniversityXi'anShaanxiChina
| | - Xinchi Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Military Stomatology & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases & Shaanxi Key Laboratory of StomatologyDepartment of Oral & Maxillofacial SurgerySchool of Stomatologythe Fourth Military Medical UniversityXi'anShaanxiChina
| | - Siqian Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Military Stomatology & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases & Shaanxi Key Laboratory of StomatologyDepartment of Oral & Maxillofacial SurgerySchool of Stomatologythe Fourth Military Medical UniversityXi'anShaanxiChina
| | - Huan Liu
- Department of PathophysiologyInstitute of Basic Medical ScienceXi'an Medical UniversityXi'anChina
| | - Xin Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Military Stomatology & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases & Shaanxi Key Laboratory of StomatologyDepartment of Oral & Maxillofacial SurgerySchool of Stomatologythe Fourth Military Medical UniversityXi'anShaanxiChina
| | - Cun Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Cancer BiologyBiotechnology CenterSchool of Pharmacythe Fourth Military Medical UniversityXi'anChina
| | - Wei Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Military Stomatology & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases & Shaanxi Key Laboratory of StomatologyDepartment of Oral & Maxillofacial SurgerySchool of Stomatologythe Fourth Military Medical UniversityXi'anShaanxiChina
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14
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Huo D, Sun L, Zhang L, Yang H, Liu S, Sun J, Su F. Time course analysis of immunity-related gene expression in the sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus during exposure to thermal and hypoxic stress. FISH & SHELLFISH IMMUNOLOGY 2019; 95:383-390. [PMID: 31585241 DOI: 10.1016/j.fsi.2019.09.073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2019] [Revised: 09/27/2019] [Accepted: 09/30/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Temperature and dissolved oxygen concentration are important abiotic factors that can limit the growth and survival of sea cucumbers by affecting their immune systems. As global warming intensifies, sea cucumbers are increasingly exposed to adverse environmental conditions, which can cause severe economic losses and limit the sustainable development of sea cucumber aquaculture. It is therefore important to better understand how sea cucumbers respond to environmental stress, especially with regard to its effects on immunity. In the present study, the time series of immunity-related gene expression in sea cucumbers under thermal and hypoxic stresses were analyzed separately. The expression trends of 17 genes related to the nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) pathway, the protease family, the complement system, heat shock proteins (HSPs) and the transferrin family during exposure to two stresses at eight time points were concluded. These genes have interconnected roles in stress defense. The expression levels of genes relating to the NF-κB pathways and HSPs were strongly affected in the sea cucumber thermal stress response, while melanotransferrin (Mtf), ferritin (Ft) and mannan-binding C-type lectin (MBCL) were affected by hypoxia. In contrast, complement factor B (Bf), myosin V (Mys) and serine protease inhibitor (SPI) were not that sensitive during the initial period of environmental stress. Similar expression patterns under both thermal and hypoxic stress for certain genes, including an increase in Hsp90 and decreases in lysozyme (Lys), major yolk protein (MYP) and cathepsin C (CTLC) were observed in sea cucumbers. Conversely, NF-κB and Hsp70 were differentially affected by the two stress treatments. Lysozyme-induced immune defense was inconstant in sea cucumbers coping with stress. A gene ontology (GO) analysis of the selected genes revealed that the most co-involved terms related to immunity and iron ion. Our analysis suggests that sea cucumbers demonstrate complex and varied immune responses to different types of stresses. This dynamic image of the immune responses and stress tolerance of sea cucumbers provides new insights into the adaptive strategies of holothurians in adverse environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Da Huo
- CAS Key Laboratory of Marine Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, 266071, China; Laboratory for Marine Ecology and Environmental Science, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266237, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China; Center for Ocean Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, 266071, China
| | - Lina Sun
- CAS Key Laboratory of Marine Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, 266071, China; Laboratory for Marine Ecology and Environmental Science, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266237, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China; Center for Ocean Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, 266071, China.
| | - Libin Zhang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Marine Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, 266071, China; Laboratory for Marine Ecology and Environmental Science, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266237, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China; Center for Ocean Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, 266071, China
| | - Hongsheng Yang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Marine Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, 266071, China; Laboratory for Marine Ecology and Environmental Science, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266237, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China; Center for Ocean Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, 266071, China.
| | - Shilin Liu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Marine Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, 266071, China; Laboratory for Marine Ecology and Environmental Science, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266237, China; Center for Ocean Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, 266071, China
| | - Jingchun Sun
- CAS Key Laboratory of Marine Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, 266071, China; Laboratory for Marine Ecology and Environmental Science, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266237, China; Center for Ocean Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, 266071, China
| | - Fang Su
- CAS Key Laboratory of Marine Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, 266071, China; Laboratory for Marine Ecology and Environmental Science, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266237, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China; Center for Ocean Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, 266071, China
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15
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Aksu U, Yaman OM, Guner I, Guntas G, Sonmez F, Tanriverdi G, Eser M, Cakiris A, Akyol S, Seçkin İ, Uzun H, Yelmen N, Sahin G. The Protective Effects of Thymosin-β-4 in a Rat Model of Ischemic Acute Kidney Injury. J INVEST SURG 2019; 34:601-609. [PMID: 31702404 DOI: 10.1080/08941939.2019.1672841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite the progress in the treatment of acute kidney injury (AKI), current curative approaches fail to provide adequate treatment. In this study, we aimed to investigate the possible protective effects of thymosin-β-4(Tβ4) on an ischemic AKI model in rats. METHODS Rats were randomly assigned into four groups (n = 8/group): The control group (sham-operated), the ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) group; renal ischemia (90 min) by infrarenal abdominal aortic occlusion followed by reperfusion (3 h), the Tβ4 + I/R group; treated with Tβ4 before I/R, and the I/Tβ4/R group; treated with Tβ4 just before reperfusion. Besides renal function determination (creatinine (Cr) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN)); histological evaluation was also conducted. Renal tissue caspase-9, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP-9) activities, and hyaluronan levels were measured. Additionally, renal tissue oxidative stress (lipid hydroperoxide, malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase, glutathione, pro-oxidant-antioxidant balance, ferric reducing antioxidant power, nitric oxide), inflammation (tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, nuclear factor-κβ) were evaluated. RESULTS I/R increased the level of caspase-9, MMP-9 activity, and hyaluronan (p < 0.001) and these were significantly decreased in both Tβ4 groups. Moreover, I/R led to increases in oxidative stress and inflammation parameters (p < 0.001) while the levels of antioxidants were decreased. Nevertheless, Tβ4 in both groups were able to restore oxidative stress and inflammation parameters. Furthermore, Tβ4 attenuated histologic injury caused by I/R (p < 0.01) and diminished serum urea-creatinine levels (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION These results suggest that Tβ4 has significant improving effects in ischemic acute kidney injury. This beneficial effect might be a result of the inhibition of extracellular matrix remodeling and apoptosis cascade via modulation in renal redox status and inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ugur Aksu
- Department of Biology, Science Faculty, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Onur M Yaman
- Department of Physiology, Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Ibrahim Guner
- Department of Physiology, Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Gulcan Guntas
- Department of Nursery, School of Health, University of Kırklareli, Kırklareli, Turkey
| | - Fuat Sonmez
- Department of Physiology, Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Gamze Tanriverdi
- Department of Histology and Embriology, Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Mediha Eser
- Department of Histology and Embriology, Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Aris Cakiris
- Institute of Health Sciences, Genetics, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Sibel Akyol
- Department of Physiology, Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - İsmail Seçkin
- Department of Histology and Embriology, Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Hafize Uzun
- Department of Biochemistry, Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Nermin Yelmen
- Department of Physiology, Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Gulderen Sahin
- Department of Physiology, Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Istanbul, Turkey
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16
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Che KF, Sun J, Linden A. Pharmacological Modulation of Endotoxin-Induced Release of IL-26 in Human Primary Lung Fibroblasts. Front Pharmacol 2019; 10:956. [PMID: 31543817 PMCID: PMC6729122 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2019.00956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2019] [Accepted: 07/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Interleukin (IL)-26 is a neutrophil-mobilizing and bactericidal cytokine that is enhanced in human airways in vivo in response to endotoxin from Gram-negative bacteria. This cytokine is also enhanced in the airways during exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Here, we investigated whether human primary lung fibroblasts (HLF) release IL-26 constitutively and in response to TLR4 stimulation by endotoxin and characterized the effects of bronchodilatory and anti-inflammatory drugs utilized in COPD. Methods: The HLF were stimulated with different concentrations of endotoxin. Cells were also treated with different concentrations of bronchodilatory and anti-inflammatory drugs, with and without endotoxin stimulation. Cytokine protein concentrations were quantified in the cell-free conditioned media [enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)], and the phosphorylation levels of intracellular signaling molecules were determined (phosphoELISA). Results: Whereas HLF displayed constitutive release of IL-26 into the conditioned medium, endotoxin markedly enhanced this release, as well as that of IL-6 and IL-8. This cytokine release was paralleled by increased phosphorylation of the intracellular signaling molecules NF-κB, c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) 1-3, p38, and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2. The glucocorticoid hydrocortisone caused substantial inhibition of the endotoxin-induced release of IL-26, IL-6, and IL-8, an effect paralleled by a decrease of the phosphorylation of NF-κB, p38, and ERK1/2. The muscarinic receptor antagonist (MRA) tiotropium, but not aclidinium, caused minor inhibition of the endotoxin-induced release of IL-26 and IL-8, paralleled by a decreased phosphorylation of NF-κB. The β2-adrenoceptor agonist salbutamol caused modest inhibition of the endotoxin-induced release of IL-26 and IL-8, paralleled by a decreased phosphorylation of NF-κB, JNK1-3, and p38. Similar pharmacological effects were observed for the constitutive release of IL-26. Conclusions: The HLF constitute an abundant source of IL-26 that may contribute to local host defense against Gram-negative bacteria. Among the tested drugs, the glucocorticoid displayed the most powerful inhibitory effect, affecting the NF-κB, p38, and ERK1/2 signaling pathways. Whether or not this inhibition of IL-26 contributes to an increased risk for local infections in COPD requires further evaluation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karlhans Fru Che
- Unit for Lung and Airway Research, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Jitong Sun
- Unit for Lung and Airway Research, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Experimental and Clinical Oncology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Anders Linden
- Unit for Lung and Airway Research, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Respiratory Disease and Allergy, Karolinska University Hospital Solna, Stockholm, Sweden
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17
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Ehrchen JM, Roth J, Barczyk-Kahlert K. More Than Suppression: Glucocorticoid Action on Monocytes and Macrophages. Front Immunol 2019; 10:2028. [PMID: 31507614 PMCID: PMC6718555 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.02028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 107] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2019] [Accepted: 08/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Uncontrolled inflammation is a leading cause of many clinically relevant diseases. Current therapeutic strategies focus mainly on immunosuppression rather than on the mechanisms of inflammatory resolution. Glucocorticoids (GCs) are still the most widely used anti-inflammatory drugs. GCs affect most immune cells but there is growing evidence for cell type specific mechanisms. Different subtypes of monocytes and macrophages play a pivotal role both in generation as well as resolution of inflammation. Activation of these cells by microbial products or endogenous danger signals results in production of pro-inflammatory mediators and initiation of an inflammatory response. GCs efficiently inhibit these processes by down-regulating pro-inflammatory mediators from macrophages and monocytes. On the other hand, GCs act on “naïve” monocytes and macrophages and induce anti-inflammatory mediators and differentiation of anti-inflammatory phenotypes. GC-induced anti-inflammatory monocytes have an increased ability to migrate toward inflammatory stimuli. They remove endo- and exogenous danger signals by an increased phagocytic capacity, produce anti-inflammatory mediators and limit T-cell activation. Thus, GCs limit amplification of inflammation by repressing pro-inflammatory macrophage activation and additionally induce anti-inflammatory monocyte and macrophage populations actively promoting resolution of inflammation. Further investigation of these mechanisms should lead to the development of novel therapeutic strategies to modulate undesirable inflammation with fewer side effects via induction of inflammatory resolution rather than non-specific immunosuppression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan M Ehrchen
- Department of Dermatology, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Johannes Roth
- Institute of Immunology, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
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18
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Wang M, Wang B, Liu M, Jiang K, Wang L. Comparative study of β-thymosin in two scallop species Argopecten irradians and Chlamys farreri. FISH & SHELLFISH IMMUNOLOGY 2019; 86:516-524. [PMID: 30468890 DOI: 10.1016/j.fsi.2018.11.050] [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: 09/26/2018] [Revised: 11/15/2018] [Accepted: 11/19/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The β-thymosin (Tβ) proteins participate in numerous biological processes, such as cell proliferation and differentiation, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial mechanism. To date, Tβ proteins have been well studied in vertebrates, especially mammals. While limited Tβ or Tβ-like proteins have been reported in invertebrates. Moreover, rare information of Tβ or Tβ-like proteins is available in scallop species yet. In the present study, two Tβ homologues, AiTβ and CfTβ, were identified and characterized from two scallop species bay scallop Argopecten irradians and Zhikong scallop Chlamys farreri. They were both 41 amino acid peptide and contained one THY domain, a highly conserved actin-binding motif and two conserved helix forming regions. Tissue distribution and expression profiles of their mRNA transcripts were roughly similar yet different in detail, while their recombinant proteins exhibited different immunomodulation activity on the downstream immune parameters. These results collectively indicated that the function of Tβ family in scallop were functionally differentiated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengqiang Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, 266071, China; Research Platform for Marine Molecular Biotechnology, National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266237, China
| | - Baojie Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, 266071, China
| | - Mei Liu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, 266071, China
| | - Keyong Jiang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, 266071, China
| | - Lei Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, 266071, China; Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266237, China; CAS Center for Ocean Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, 266400, China.
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19
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Ferrara G, Petrillo MG, Giani T, Marrani E, Filippeschi C, Oranges T, Simonini G, Cimaz R. Clinical Use and Molecular Action of Corticosteroids in the Pediatric Age. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20020444. [PMID: 30669566 PMCID: PMC6359239 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20020444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2018] [Revised: 01/14/2019] [Accepted: 01/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Corticosteroids are the mainstay of therapy for many pediatric disorders and sometimes are life-saving. Both endogenous and synthetic derivatives diffuse across the cell membrane and, by binding to their cognate glucocorticoid receptor, modulate a variety of physiological functions, such as glucose metabolism, immune homeostasis, organ development, and the endocrine system. However, despite their proved and known efficacy, corticosteroids show a lot of side effects, among which growth retardation is of particular concern and specific for pediatric age. The aim of this review is to discuss the mechanism of action of corticosteroids, and how their genomic effects have both beneficial and adverse consequences. We will focus on the use of corticosteroids in different pediatric subspecialties and most common diseases, analyzing the most recent evidence.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Maria Grazia Petrillo
- Signal Transduction laboratory, NIEHS, NIH, Department of Health and Human Services, Research Triangle Park, Durham, NC 27709, USA.
| | - Teresa Giani
- Pediatric Rheumatology, Anna Meyer Children University Hospital, 50139 Florence, Italy.
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy.
| | | | - Cesare Filippeschi
- Department of Dermatology, Anna Meyer Children's University Hospital, 50139 Florence, Italy.
| | - Teresa Oranges
- Department of Dermatology, Anna Meyer Children's University Hospital, 50139 Florence, Italy.
| | - Gabriele Simonini
- Pediatric Rheumatology, Anna Meyer Children University Hospital, 50139 Florence, Italy.
| | - Rolando Cimaz
- Pediatric Rheumatology, Anna Meyer Children University Hospital, 50139 Florence, Italy.
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20
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Renga G, Oikonomou V, Stincardini C, Pariano M, Borghi M, Costantini C, Bartoli A, Garaci E, Goldstein AL, Romani L. Thymosin β4 limits inflammation through autophagy. Expert Opin Biol Ther 2019; 18:171-175. [PMID: 30063848 DOI: 10.1080/14712598.2018.1473854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Thymosin β4 (Tβ4) is a thymic hormone with multiple and different intracellular and extracellular activities affecting wound healing, inflammation, fibrosis and tissue regeneration. As the failure to resolve inflammation leads to uncontrolled inflammatory pathology which underlies many chronic diseases, the endogenous pathway through which Tβ4 may promote inflammation resolution becomes of great interest. In this review, we discuss data highlighting the efficacy of Tβ4 in resolving inflammation by restoring autophagy. AREAS COVERED The authors provide an overview of the Tβ4's anti-inflammatory properties in several pathologies and provide preliminary evidence on the ability of Tβ4 to resolve inflammation via the promotion of non-canonical autophagy associated with the activation of the DAP kinase anti-inflammatory function. EXPERT OPINION Based on its multitasking activity in various animal studies, including tissue repair and prevention of chronic inflammation, Tβ4 may represent a potential, novel treatment for inflammatory diseases associated with defective autophagy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giorgia Renga
- a Department of Experimental Medicine , University of Perugia , Perugia , Italy
| | - Vasilis Oikonomou
- a Department of Experimental Medicine , University of Perugia , Perugia , Italy
| | - Claudia Stincardini
- a Department of Experimental Medicine , University of Perugia , Perugia , Italy
| | - Marilena Pariano
- a Department of Experimental Medicine , University of Perugia , Perugia , Italy
| | - Monica Borghi
- a Department of Experimental Medicine , University of Perugia , Perugia , Italy
| | - Claudio Costantini
- a Department of Experimental Medicine , University of Perugia , Perugia , Italy
| | - Andrea Bartoli
- a Department of Experimental Medicine , University of Perugia , Perugia , Italy
| | - Enrico Garaci
- b University San Raffaele and IRCCS San Raffaele , Rome , Italy
| | - Allan L Goldstein
- c Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine , the George Washington University, School of Medicine and Health Sciences , Washington , DC , USA
| | - Luigina Romani
- a Department of Experimental Medicine , University of Perugia , Perugia , Italy
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Pardon MC. Anti-inflammatory potential of thymosin β4 in the central nervous system: implications for progressive neurodegenerative diseases. Expert Opin Biol Ther 2019; 18:165-169. [PMID: 30063850 DOI: 10.1080/14712598.2018.1486817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The actin-sequestering thymosin beta4 (Tβ4) is the most abundant member of the β-thymosins, and is widely expressed in the central nervous system (CNS), but its functions in the healthy and diseased brain are poorly understood. The expression of Tβ4 in neurons and microglia, the resident immune cells of the brain, suggests that it can play a role in modulating behavioral processes and immunological mechanisms in the brain. The purpose of this review is to shed lights on the role of Tβ4 in CNS function and diseases without antecedent autoimmune inflammation or injury, and to question its therapeutic potential for neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease. AREAS COVERED This review presents the evidence supporting a role for Tβ4 in behaviors that are affected in CNS disorders, as well as studies linking Tβ4 upregulation in microglia to neuroinflammatory processes associated with these disorders. Finally, the implication of Tβ4 in the process of microglial activation and the mechanisms underlying its ability to suppress pro-inflammatory signaling in microglia are discussed. EXPERT OPINION Tβ4 has the potential to control inflammatory processes in the brain, opening avenues for new therapeutic applications to a range of neurodegenerative conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie-Christine Pardon
- a School of Life Sciences, Division of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Queens Medical Centre , The University of Nottingham Medical School , Nottingham , UK
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22
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Manousopoulou A, Hamdan M, Fotopoulos M, Garay‐Baquero DJ, Teng J, Garbis SD, Cheong Y. Integrated Eutopic Endometrium and Non‐Depleted Serum Quantitative Proteomic Analysis Identifies Candidate Serological Markers of Endometriosis. Proteomics Clin Appl 2018; 13:e1800153. [DOI: 10.1002/prca.201800153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2018] [Revised: 11/06/2018] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Mukhri Hamdan
- Department of Obstetrics and GynaecologyFaculty of MedicineUniversity Malaysia 50603 Kuala Lumpur Malaysia
| | | | | | - Jie Teng
- Institute for Life SciencesUniversity of Southampton Southampton, SO17 1BJ UK
- School of PharmacyTianjin Medical University Tianjin China
| | - Spiros D. Garbis
- Institute for Life SciencesUniversity of Southampton Southampton, SO17 1BJ UK
- Proteome Exploration Laboratory - Beckman InstituteDivision of Biology and Biological EngineeringCalifornia Institute of Technology Pasadena, CA 91125 USA
| | - Ying Cheong
- Human Development and HealthUniversity of Southampton Southampton SO16 UK
- Complete Fertility Centre SouthamptonPrincess Anne Hospital Coxford Road Southampton SO16 5YA UK
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Saunders V, Dewing JM, Sanchez-Elsner T, Wilson DI. Expression and localisation of thymosin beta-4 in the developing human early fetal heart. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0207248. [PMID: 30412598 PMCID: PMC6226193 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0207248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2018] [Accepted: 10/26/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The objective of this study was to investigate the expression and localisation of thymosin β4 (Tβ4) in the developing human heart. Tβ4 is a cardioprotective protein which may have therapeutic potential. While Tβ4 is an endogenously produced protein with known importance during development, its role within the developing human heart is not fully understood. Elucidating the localisation of Tβ4 within the developing heart will help in understanding its role during cardiac development and is crucial for understanding its potential for cardioprotection and repair in the adult heart. METHODS Expression of Tβ4 mRNA in the early fetal human heart was assessed by PCR using both ventricular and atrial tissue. Fluorescence immunohistochemistry was used to assess the localisation of Tβ4 in sections of early fetal human heart. Co-staining with CD31, an endothelial cell marker, and with myosin heavy chain, a cardiomyocyte marker, was used to determine whether Tβ4 is localised to these cell types within the early fetal human heart. RESULTS Tβ4 mRNA was found to be expressed in both the atria and the ventricles of the early fetal human heart. Tβ4 protein was found to be primarily localised to CD31-expressing endothelial cells and the endocardium as well as being present in the epicardium. Tβ4-associated fluorescence was greater in the compact layer of the myocardial wall and the interventricular septum than in the trabecular layer of the myocardium. CONCLUSIONS The data presented illustrates expression of Tβ4 in the developing human heart and demonstrates for the first time that Tβ4 in the human heart is primarily localised to endothelial cells of the cardiac microvasculature and coronary vessels as-well as to the endothelial-like cells of the endocardium and to the epicardium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vinay Saunders
- Institute for Developmental Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Jennifer M. Dewing
- Institute for Developmental Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Tilman Sanchez-Elsner
- Academic Unit of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - David I. Wilson
- Institute for Developmental Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
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Development of pipette tip gap closure migration assay (s-ARU method) for studying semi-adherent cell lines. Cytotechnology 2018; 70:1685-1695. [PMID: 30069611 DOI: 10.1007/s10616-018-0245-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2017] [Accepted: 07/25/2018] [Indexed: 10/28/2022] Open
Abstract
This work presents a pipette tip gap closure migration assay prototype tool (semi-adherent relative upsurge-s-ARU-method) to study cell migration or wound healing in semi-adherent cell lines, such as lymph node carcinoma of the prostate (LNCaP). Basically, it consists of a 6-well cover plate modification, where pipette tips with the filter are shortened and fixed vertically to the inner surface of the cover plate, with their heights adjusted to touch the bottom of the well center. This provides a barrier for the inoculated cells to grow on, creating a cell-free gap. Such a uniform gap formed can be used to study migration assay for both adherent as well as semi-adherent cells. After performing time studies, effective measurement of gap area can be carried out conveniently through image analysis software. Here, the prototype was tested for LNCaP cells, treated with testosterone and flutamide as well as with bacteriophages T4 and M13. A scratch assay using PC3 adherent cells was also performed for comparison. It was observed that s-ARU method is suitable for studying LNCaP cells migration assay, as observed from our results with testosterone, flutamide, and bacteriophages (T4 and M13). Our method is a low-cost handmade prototype, which can be an alternative to the other migration assay protocol(s) for both adherent and semi-adherent cell cultures in oncological research along with other biological research applications.
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Yu R, Cao S, Liu Y, Si X, Fang T, Sun X, Dai H, Xu J, Fang H, Chen W. Highly effective biosynthesis of N-acetylated human thymosin β4 (Tβ4) in Escherichia coli. ARTIFICIAL CELLS NANOMEDICINE AND BIOTECHNOLOGY 2018; 46:S95-S104. [DOI: 10.1080/21691401.2018.1489268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Rui Yu
- Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Sai Cao
- Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Yanhong Liu
- Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Xinxi Si
- Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Ting Fang
- Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Xu Sun
- Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Hongmei Dai
- Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Junjie Xu
- Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Hongqing Fang
- Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Wei Chen
- Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing, P. R. China
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Jeffery CJ. Protein moonlighting: what is it, and why is it important? Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2018; 373:rstb.2016.0523. [PMID: 29203708 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2016.0523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 174] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/24/2017] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Members of the GroEL/HSP60 protein family have been studied for many years because of their critical roles as ATP-dependent molecular chaperones, so it might come as a surprise that some have important functions in ATP-poor conditions, for example, when secreted outside the cell. At least some members of each of the HSP10, HSP70, HSP90, HSP100 and HSP110 heat shock protein families are also 'moonlighting proteins'. Moonlighting proteins exhibit more than one physiologically relevant biochemical or biophysical function within one polypeptide chain. In this class of multifunctional proteins, the multiple functions are not due to gene fusions or multiple proteolytic fragments. Several hundred moonlighting proteins have been identified, and they include a diverse set of proteins with a large variety of functions. Some participate in multiple biochemical processes by using an active site pocket for catalysis and a different part of the protein's surface to interact with other proteins. Moonlighting proteins play a central role in many diseases, and the development of novel treatments would be aided by more information addressing current questions, for example, how some are targeted to multiple cellular locations and how a single function can be targeted by therapeutics without targeting a function not involved in disease.This article is part of the theme issue 'Heat shock proteins as modulators and therapeutic targets of chronic disease: an integrated perspective'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Constance J Jeffery
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
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Inhibition of acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity in mice by exogenous thymosinβ4 treatment. Int Immunopharmacol 2018; 61:20-28. [PMID: 29793165 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2018.05.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2017] [Revised: 04/12/2018] [Accepted: 05/17/2018] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To study the effects of exogenous thymosinβ4 (Tβ4) treatment in acetaminophen (APAP)-induced hepatotoxicity. METHODS Liver injury was induced in mice by a single intraperitoneal injection of APAP (500 mg/kg). Exogenous Tβ4 was intraperitoneally administrated at 0 h, 2 h and 4 h after APAP injection. Chloroquine (CQ) (60 mg/kg) was intraperitoneally injected 2 h before APAP administration to inhibit autophagy. Six hours after APAP injection liver injury was evaluated by histological examinations, biochemical measurements and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISAs). Western blots were performed to detect proteins expression. RESULTS Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activities were significantly increased 6 h after APAP administration, but were significantly reduced by co-administration of Tβ4. Histological examinations demonstrated that Tβ4 reduced necrosis and inflammation induced by APAP. Immunofluorescence showed that Tβ4 suppressed APAP-induced translocation of high mobility group box-1 protein (HMGB1) from the nucleus to cytosol and intercellular space. Hepatic glutathione (GSH) depletion, malondialdehyde (MDA) formation and decreased superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities induced by APAP were all attenuated by Tβ4. APAP-induced increases in hepatic nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) p65 protein expression and inflammatory cytokines production including interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were reduced by Tβ4 treatment. Increased LC3 and p62 proteins in the liver tissues of APAP-treated mice were decreased by Tβ4 treatment, which indicated the enhancement of autophagy flux by Tβ4. Furthermore, inhibiting autophagy by CQ abrogated the protective effects of Tβ4 against APAP hepatotoxicity. CONCLUSION Exogenous Tβ4 treatment exerts protective effects against APAP-induced hepatotoxicity in mice. The underneath molecular mechanisms may involve autophagy enhancement and inhibition of oxidative stress by Tβ4.
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Vasilopoulou E, Riley PR, Long DA. Thymosin-β4: A key modifier of renal disease. Expert Opin Biol Ther 2018; 18:185-192. [DOI: 10.1080/14712598.2018.1473371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Elisavet Vasilopoulou
- Medway School of Pharmacy, University of Kent, Chatham Maritime, UK
- Developmental Biology and Cancer Programme, UCL Institute of Child Health, London, UK
| | - Paul R. Riley
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - David A. Long
- Developmental Biology and Cancer Programme, UCL Institute of Child Health, London, UK
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Functional imaging in combination with mutation status aids prediction of response to inhibiting B-cell receptor signaling in lymphoma. Oncotarget 2017; 8:78917-78929. [PMID: 29108275 PMCID: PMC5668008 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.20551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2017] [Accepted: 07/31/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Aberrant B-cell receptor (BCR) signaling is known to contribute to malignant transformation. Two small molecule inhibitors targeting BCR pathway signaling include ibrutinib, a Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor, and idelalisib, a specific Phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate 3-kinase delta (PI3Kδ) inhibitor, both of which have been approved for use in haematological malignancies. Despite the identification of various diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) subtypes, mutation status alone is not sufficient to predict patient response and therapeutic resistance can arise. Herein we apply early molecular imaging across alternative activated B-cell (ABC) and germinal center B-cell (GCB) DLBCL subtypes to investigate the effects of BCR pathway inhibition. Treatment with both inhibitors adversely affected cell growth and viability. These effects were partially predictable based upon mutation status. Accordingly, very early 2-deoxy-2-[18F]fluoro-D-glucose positron emission tomography (18F-FDG-PET) and 3’-deoxy-3’[18F]-fluorothymidine positron emission tomography (18F-FLT-PET) reported tumour regression and reductions in tumour metabolism and proliferation upon treatment. Furthermore, matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization imaging mass spectrometry (MALDI IMS) identified alterations in the proteome of a model of ABC DLBCL upon treatment with ibrutinib or idelalisib. In conclusion we demonstrate that very early molecular imaging adds predictive value in addition to mutational status of DLBCL that may be useful in directing patient therapy.
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Li X, Wang L, Chen C. Effects of exogenous thymosin β4 on carbon tetrachloride-induced liver injury and fibrosis. Sci Rep 2017; 7:5872. [PMID: 28724974 PMCID: PMC5517632 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-06318-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2017] [Accepted: 06/12/2017] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The present study investigated the effects of exogenous thymosin β4 (TB4) on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced acute liver injury and fibrosis in rodent animals. Results showed that both in mice and rats CCl4 rendered significant increases in serum alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase, hepatic malondialdehyde formation, decreases in antioxidants including superoxide dismutase and glutathione, and up-regulated expressions of transforming growth factor-β1, α-smooth muscle actin, tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-1β in the liver tissues. Hydroxyproline contents in the rat livers were increased by CCl4. Histopathological examinations indicated that CCl4 induced extensive necrosis in mice livers and pseudo-lobule formations, collagen deposition in rats livers. However, all these changes in mice and rats were significantly attenuated by exogenous TB4 treatment. Furthermore, up-regulations of nuclear factor-κB p65 protein expression by CCl4 treatment in mice and rats livers were also remarkably reduced by exogenous TB4 administration. Taken together, findings in this study suggested that exogenous TB4 might prevent CCl4-induced acute liver injury and subsequent fibrosis through alleviating oxidative stress and inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiankui Li
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Science, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China.
| | - Lei Wang
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Cai Chen
- Teaching and Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine, Xinyang Vocational and Technical College, Xinyang, China
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Mescher AL, Neff AW, King MW. Inflammation and immunity in organ regeneration. DEVELOPMENTAL AND COMPARATIVE IMMUNOLOGY 2017; 66:98-110. [PMID: 26891614 DOI: 10.1016/j.dci.2016.02.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 99] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2015] [Revised: 01/19/2016] [Accepted: 02/09/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
The ability of vertebrates to regenerate amputated appendages is increasingly well-understood at the cellular level. Cells mediating an innate immune response and inflammation in the injured tissues are a prominent feature of the limb prior to formation of a regeneration blastema, with macrophage activity necessary for blastema growth and successful development of the new limb. Studies involving either anti-inflammatory or pro-inflammatory agents suggest that the local inflammation produced by injury and its timely resolution are both important for regeneration, with blastema patterning inhibited in the presence of unresolved inflammation. Various experiments with Xenopus larvae at stages where regenerative competence is declining show improved digit formation after treatment with certain immunosuppressive, anti-inflammatory, or antioxidant agents. Similar work with the larval Xenopus tail has implicated adaptive immunity with regenerative competence and suggests a requirement for regulatory T cells in regeneration, which also occurs in many systems of tissue regeneration. Recent analyses of the human nail organ indicate a capacity for local immune tolerance, suggesting roles for adaptive immunity in the capacity for mammalian appendage regeneration. New information and better understanding regarding the neuroendocrine-immune axis in the response to stressors, including amputation, suggest additional approaches useful for investigating effects of the immune system during repair and regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony L Mescher
- Center for Developmental and Regenerative Biology; Indiana University School of Medicine - Bloomington, USA.
| | - Anton W Neff
- Center for Developmental and Regenerative Biology; Indiana University School of Medicine - Bloomington, USA.
| | - Michael W King
- Center for Developmental and Regenerative Biology; Indiana University School of Medicine - Terre Haute, USA.
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Bosello S, Peluso G, Iavarone F, Tolusso B, Messana I, Faa G, Castagnola M, Ferraccioli G. Thymosin β 4 and β 10 in Sjögren's syndrome: saliva proteomics and minor salivary glands expression. Arthritis Res Ther 2016; 18:229. [PMID: 27716395 PMCID: PMC5053072 DOI: 10.1186/s13075-016-1134-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2016] [Accepted: 09/20/2016] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background In the present study, we investigated whether thymosin β (Tβ) in saliva and in minor salivary glands is differentially expressed in patients with primary Sjögren’s syndrome (pSS) and patients with autoimmune diseases (systemic sclerosis [SSc], systemic lupus erythematosus [SLE], and rheumatoid arthritis [RA], with and without sicca syndrome [ss]). Methods Saliva specimens of nine patients with pSS, seven with ss/SSc, seven with ss/SLE, seven with ss/RA, seven with SSc, seven with SLE, and seven with RA, as well as ten healthy subjects, were analyzed using a high-performance liquid chromatograph coupled with a mass spectrometer equipped with an electrospray ionization source to investigate the presence and levels of Tβ4, Tβ4 sulfoxide, and Tβ10. Immunostaining for Tβ4 and Tβ10 was performed on minor salivary glands of patients with pSS and ss. Results Tβ4 levels were statistically higher in patients with pSS with respect to the other subgroups. Tβ10 was detectable in 66.7 % of patients with pSS and in 42.8 % of those with ss/SSc, while Tβ4 sulfoxide was detectable in 44.4 % of patients with pSS and in 42.9 % of those with ss/SSc. Tβ10 and Tβ4 sulfoxide were not detectable in patients without associated ss and in healthy control subjects. Regarding thymosin immunostaining, all patients had immunoreactivity for Tβ10, and a comparable distribution pattern in the four different subgroups of patients was observed. Tβ4 immunoreactivity was present in patients with ss/SSc and those with ss/SLE, while it was completely absent in patients with pSS and those with ss/RA. Conclusions Our data show that higher salivary Tβ expression characterizes patients with pSS, while Tβ4 sulfoxide and Tβ10 salivary expression was selectively present in patients with sicca symptoms. Moreover, at the immunohistochemical level in patients with pSS, minor salivary glands showed a peculiar pattern characterized by immunostaining for Tβ10 in acinar cells in the absence of any reactivity for Tβ4. These findings, taken together, suggest a different role for Tβ4 and Tβ10 in patients with pSS who have ss and other autoimmune disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Bosello
- Division of Rheumatology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli, Rome, Italy
| | - Giusy Peluso
- Division of Rheumatology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli, Rome, Italy
| | - Federica Iavarone
- Institute of Chemistry and Clinical Biochemistry, Catholic University, Rome, Italy
| | - Barbara Tolusso
- Division of Rheumatology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli, Rome, Italy
| | - Irene Messana
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Gavino Faa
- Department of Surgery, Section of Pathology, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Massimo Castagnola
- Institute of Chemistry and Clinical Biochemistry, Catholic University, Rome, Italy
| | - Gianfranco Ferraccioli
- Division of Rheumatology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli, Rome, Italy. .,Institute of Rheumatology and Affine Sciences, Universita' Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Presidio Columbus, Via Giuseppe Moscati, 31, 00168, Rome, Italy.
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Martelli C, Marzano V, Iavarone F, Huang L, Vincenzoni F, Desiderio C, Messana I, Beltrami P, Zattoni F, Ferraro PM, Buchholz N, Locci G, Faa G, Castagnola M, Gambaro G. Characterization of the Protein Components of Matrix Stones Sheds Light on S100-A8 and S100-A9 Relevance in the Inflammatory Pathogenesis of These Rare Renal Calculi. J Urol 2016; 196:911-8. [DOI: 10.1016/j.juro.2016.04.064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/01/2016] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Martelli
- Institute of Biochemistry and Clinical Biochemistry, Catholic University, Rome, Italy
| | - Valeria Marzano
- Institute of Biochemistry and Clinical Biochemistry, Catholic University, Rome, Italy
| | - Federica Iavarone
- Institute of Biochemistry and Clinical Biochemistry, Catholic University, Rome, Italy
| | - Liling Huang
- Institute of Biochemistry and Clinical Biochemistry, Catholic University, Rome, Italy
| | - Federica Vincenzoni
- Institute of Biochemistry and Clinical Biochemistry, Catholic University, Rome, Italy
| | - Claudia Desiderio
- Institute of Chemistry of Molecular Recognition, Italian National Research Council, Rome, Italy
| | - Irene Messana
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Cagliari University, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Paolo Beltrami
- Urology Clinic, Department of Surgical, Oncological and Gastroenterological Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Filiberto Zattoni
- Urology Clinic, Department of Surgical, Oncological and Gastroenterological Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Pietro Manuel Ferraro
- Nephrology Division, Institute of Internal Medicine, Catholic University, Rome, Italy
| | - Noor Buchholz
- U-merge (Urology in Emerging Countries), London, United Kingdom
| | - Giorgia Locci
- Pathology Division, Department of Surgery, Cagliari University, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Gavino Faa
- Pathology Division, Department of Surgery, Cagliari University, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Massimo Castagnola
- Institute of Biochemistry and Clinical Biochemistry, Catholic University, Rome, Italy
- Institute of Chemistry of Molecular Recognition, Italian National Research Council, Rome, Italy
| | - Giovanni Gambaro
- Nephrology Division, Institute of Internal Medicine, Catholic University, Rome, Italy
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Kedia K, Smith SF, Wright AH, Barnes JM, Tolley HD, Esplin MS, Graves SW. Global "omics" evaluation of human placental responses to preeclamptic conditions. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2016; 215:238.e1-238.e20. [PMID: 26970495 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2016.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2016] [Revised: 02/29/2016] [Accepted: 03/02/2016] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Preeclampsia (PE) is a leading cause of maternal death. Its cause is still debated but there is general agreement that the placenta plays a central role. Perhaps the most commonly proposed contributors to PE include placental hypoxia, oxidative stress, and increased proinflammatory cytokines. How the placenta responds to these abnormalities has been considered but not as part of a comprehensive analysis of low-molecular-weight biomolecules and their responses to these accepted PE conditions. OBJECTIVE Using a peptidomic approach, we sought to identify a set of molecules exhibiting differential expression in consequence of provocative agents/chemical mediators of PE applied to healthy human placental tissue. STUDY DESIGN Known PE conditions were imposed on normal placental tissue from 13 uncomplicated pregnancies and changes in the low-molecular-weight peptidome were evaluated. A t test was used to identify potential markers for each imposed stress. These markers were then submitted to a least absolute shrinkage and selection operator multinomial logistic regression model to identify signatures specific to each stressor. Estimates of model performance on external data were obtained through internal validation. RESULTS A total of 146 markers were increased/decreased as a consequence of exposure to proposed mediators of PE. Of these 75 changed with hypoxia; 23 with hypoxia-reoxygenation/oxidative stress and 48 from exposure to tumor necrosis factor-α. These markers were chemically characterized using tandem mass spectrometry. Identification rates were: hypoxia, 34%; hypoxia-reoxygenation, 60%; and tumor necrosis factor-α, 50%. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator modeling specified 16 markers that effectively distinguished all groups, ie, the 3 abnormal conditions and control. Bootstrap estimates of misclassification rates, multiclass area under the curve, and Brier score were 0.108, 0.944, and 0.160, respectively. CONCLUSION Using this approach we found previously unknown molecular changes in response to individual PE conditions that allowed development biomolecular signatures for exposure to each accepted pathogenic condition.
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Abstract
Treatment with thymosin beta 4 (Tβ4) reduces infarct volume and preserves cardiac function in preclinical models of cardiac ischemic injury. These effects stem in part from decreased infarct size, but additional benefits are likely due to specific antifibrotic and proangiogenic activities. Injected or transgenic Tβ4 increase blood vessel growth in large and small animal models, consistent with Tβ4 converting hibernating myocardium to an actively contractile state following ischemia. Tβ4 and its degradation products have antifibrotic effects in in vitro assays and in animal models of fibrosis not related to cardiac injury. This large number of pleiotropic effects results from Tβ4's many interactions with cellular signaling pathways, particularly indirect regulation of cellular motility and movement via the SRF-MRTF-G-actin transcriptional pathway. Variation in effects and effect sizes in animal models may potentially be due to variable distribution of Tβ4. Preclinical studies of PK/PD relationships and a reliable pharmacodynamic biomarker would facilitate clinical development of Tβ4.
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Affiliation(s)
- G T Pipes
- Cardiovascular Drug Discovery, Discovery Biology Research & Development, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Pennington, NJ, United States.
| | - J Yang
- Cardiovascular Drug Discovery, Discovery Biology Research & Development, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Pennington, NJ, United States
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Actin-Induced Structure in the Beta-Thymosin Family of Intrinsically Disordered Proteins. VITAMINS AND HORMONES 2016; 102:55-71. [PMID: 27450730 DOI: 10.1016/bs.vh.2016.04.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Thymosin β4 (Tβ4) is a 43-amino acid signature motif peptide that defines the beta-thymosin (βT) family of proteins. βTs are intrinsically unstructured in their free states and undergo disorder-to-order transitions in carrying out their biological functions. This property poses challenges in determining their 3D structures, mainly favoring structural studies on the complexes formed between βTs and their interaction partners. One of the βTs' primary binding partners is monomeric actin, a major component of the cytoskeleton in eukaryotic cells. Tβ4's role in this system is to maintain the highly concentrated pool of monomeric actin that can be accessed through profilin by actin filament nucleating machineries. Here, we give an account of the structures of βTs that have been illuminated by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and X-ray crystallography. NMR has been the method of choice for probing regions that have intrinsic conformational preference within the largely disordered βTs in their native states in solution. X-ray crystallography has demonstrated at atomic detail how βTs interact with actin. Detailed analysis of these structures highlights the disorder-to-order transition of Tβ4 in binding to actin and its isoform specificity.
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Abstract
No agent has been identified that significantly accelerates the repair of chronic dermal wounds in humans. Thymosin beta 4 (Tβ4) is a small, abundant, naturally occurring regenerative protein that is found in body fluids and inside cells. It was found to have angiogenic and antiinflammatory activity and to be high in platelets that aggregate at the wound site. Thus we used Tβ4 initially in dermal healing. It has since been shown to have many activities important in tissue protection, repair, and regeneration. Tβ4 increases the rate of dermal healing in various preclinical animal models, including diabetic and aged animals, and is active for burns as well. Tβ4 also accelerated the rate of repair in phase 2 trials with patients having pressure ulcers, stasis ulcers, and epidermolysis bullosa wounds. It is safe and well tolerated and will likely have additional uses in the skin and in injured organs for tissue repair and regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- H K Kleinman
- George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States.
| | - G Sosne
- Kresge Eye Institute, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, United States
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Li J, Zhang Y, Liu Y, Zhang Y, Xiang Z, Qu F, Yu Z. A thymosin beta-4 is involved in production of hemocytes and immune defense of Hong Kong oyster, Crassostrea hongkongensis. DEVELOPMENTAL AND COMPARATIVE IMMUNOLOGY 2016; 57:1-9. [PMID: 26695126 DOI: 10.1016/j.dci.2015.12.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2015] [Revised: 12/10/2015] [Accepted: 12/11/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Thymosin beta-4 (Tβ4) is a ubiquitous protein with multiple and diverse intracellular and extracellular functions in vertebrates. In this study, the full-length cDNA of Tβ4 was cloned and identified in Crassostrea hongkongensis, designated as ChTβ4. The full-length cDNA of ChTβ4 consists of 530 bp with an open reading frame of 126 bp encoding a 41 amino acid polypeptide. SMART analysis indicated that there is one thymosin domain and a highly conserved actin-binding motif (18LKKTET23) in ChTβ4. In vivo injection of recombinant ChTβ4 protein could significantly increase total hemocytes count in oysters, and knockdown of the expression of ChTβ4 resulted in a significant decrease in the circulating hemocytes. Tissue distribution analysis revealed a ubiquitous presence of ChTβ4, with the highest expression in hemocytes. The upregulated transcripts of ChTβ4 in response to bacterial challenge and tissue injury suggest that ChTβ4 is involved in both innate immunity against pathogen infection and wound healing. Moreover, bacteria-clearance experiment showed ChTβ4 could facilitate the clearance of injected bacteria in oysters. In vivo injection with ChTβ4 resulted in reduction of the intracellular ROS in hemocytes, which was associated with increased expression of antioxidant enzymes Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD), Catalase, and Glutathione Peroxidase (GPX) by pre-treatment with ChTβ4. These results suggest that ChTβ4 is a thymosin beta-4 homolog and plays a vital role in the immune defense of C. hongkongensis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Li
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-Resources and Ecology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 164 West Xingang Road, Guangzhou 510301, China; South China Sea Bio-Resource Exploitation and Utilization Collaborative Innovation Center, China
| | - Yuehuan Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-Resources and Ecology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 164 West Xingang Road, Guangzhou 510301, China; South China Sea Bio-Resource Exploitation and Utilization Collaborative Innovation Center, China
| | - Ying Liu
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-Resources and Ecology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 164 West Xingang Road, Guangzhou 510301, China; South China Sea Bio-Resource Exploitation and Utilization Collaborative Innovation Center, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 19A Yuquan Road, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yang Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-Resources and Ecology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 164 West Xingang Road, Guangzhou 510301, China; South China Sea Bio-Resource Exploitation and Utilization Collaborative Innovation Center, China.
| | - Zhiming Xiang
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-Resources and Ecology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 164 West Xingang Road, Guangzhou 510301, China; South China Sea Bio-Resource Exploitation and Utilization Collaborative Innovation Center, China
| | - Fufa Qu
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-Resources and Ecology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 164 West Xingang Road, Guangzhou 510301, China; South China Sea Bio-Resource Exploitation and Utilization Collaborative Innovation Center, China
| | - Ziniu Yu
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-Resources and Ecology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 164 West Xingang Road, Guangzhou 510301, China; South China Sea Bio-Resource Exploitation and Utilization Collaborative Innovation Center, China.
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Goldstein AL, Kleinman HK. Advances in the basic and clinical applications of thymosin β4. Expert Opin Biol Ther 2015; 15 Suppl 1:S139-45. [DOI: 10.1517/14712598.2015.1011617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
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Thymosin β4 Attenuates Early Diabetic Nephropathy in a Mouse Model of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. Am J Ther 2015; 22:141-6. [DOI: 10.1097/mjt.0b013e3182785ecc] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Wei C, Kim IK, Li L, Wu L, Gupta S. Thymosin Beta 4 protects mice from monocrotaline-induced pulmonary hypertension and right ventricular hypertrophy. PLoS One 2014; 9:e110598. [PMID: 25412097 PMCID: PMC4239012 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0110598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2014] [Accepted: 09/19/2014] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a progressive vascular disease of pulmonary arteries that impedes ejection of blood by the right ventricle. As a result there is an increase in pulmonary vascular resistance and pulmonary arterial pressure causing right ventricular hypertrophy (RVH) and RV failure. The pathology of PAH involves vascular cell remodeling including pulmonary arterial endothelial cell (PAEC) dysfunction and pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cell (PASMC) proliferation. Current therapies are limited to reverse the vascular remodeling. Investigating a key molecule is required for development of new therapeutic intervention. Thymosin beta-4 (Tβ4) is a ubiquitous G-actin sequestering protein with diverse biological function and promotes wound healing and modulates inflammatory responses. However, it remains unknown whether Tβ4 has any protective role in PH. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the whether Tβ4 can be used as a vascular-protective agent. In monocrotaline (MCT)-induced PH mouse model, we showed that mice treated with Tβ4 significantly attenuated the systolic pressure and RVH, compared to the MCT treated mice. Our data revealed for the first time that Tβ4 selectively targets Notch3-Col 3A-CTGF gene axis in preventing MCT-induced PH and RVH. Our study may provide pre-clinical evidence for Tβ4 and may consider as vasculo-protective agent for the treatment of PH induced RVH.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Cells, Cultured
- Collagen Type III/genetics
- Collagen Type III/metabolism
- Connective Tissue Growth Factor/genetics
- Connective Tissue Growth Factor/metabolism
- Disease Models, Animal
- Endothelial Cells/drug effects
- Hypertension, Pulmonary/chemically induced
- Hypertension, Pulmonary/pathology
- Hypertension, Pulmonary/prevention & control
- Hypertrophy, Right Ventricular/chemically induced
- Hypertrophy, Right Ventricular/pathology
- Hypertrophy, Right Ventricular/prevention & control
- Injections, Intraperitoneal
- Lung/drug effects
- Lung/metabolism
- Lung/pathology
- Male
- Mice
- Monocrotaline/toxicity
- Receptor, Notch3
- Receptors, Notch/genetics
- Receptors, Notch/metabolism
- Signal Transduction/drug effects
- Thymosin/administration & dosage
- Thymosin/pharmacology
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Affiliation(s)
- Chuanyu Wei
- Division of Molecular Cardiology, Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, Texas A & M Health Science Center and Scott & White, Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, Temple, Texas, United States of America
| | - Il-Kwon Kim
- Division of Molecular Cardiology, Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, Texas A & M Health Science Center and Scott & White, Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, Temple, Texas, United States of America
| | - Li Li
- Division of Molecular Cardiology, Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, Texas A & M Health Science Center and Scott & White, Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, Temple, Texas, United States of America
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China
| | - Liling Wu
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China
| | - Sudhiranjan Gupta
- Division of Molecular Cardiology, Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, Texas A & M Health Science Center and Scott & White, Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, Temple, Texas, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Over-expression of thymosin β4 in granulomatous lung tissue with active pulmonary tuberculosis. Tuberculosis (Edinb) 2014; 94:323-31. [PMID: 24556076 DOI: 10.1016/j.tube.2014.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2013] [Revised: 01/23/2014] [Accepted: 01/26/2014] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Recent studies have shown that thymosin β4 (Tβ4) stimulates angiogenesis by inducing vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression and stabilizing hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) protein. Pulmonary tuberculosis (TB), a type of granulomatous disease, is accompanied by intense angiogenesis and VEGF levels have been reported to be elevated in serum or tissue inflamed by pulmonary tuberculosis. We investigated the expression of Tβ4 in granulomatous lung tissues at various stages of active pulmonary tuberculosis, and we also examined the expression patterns of VEGF and HIF-1α to compare their Tβ4 expression patterns in patients' tissues and in the tissue microarray of TB patients. Tβ4 was highly expressed in both granulomas and surrounding lymphocytes in nascent granulomatous lung tissue, but was expressed only surrounding tissues of necrotic or caseous necrotic regions. The expression pattern of HIF-1α was similar to that of Tβ4. VEGF was expressed in both granulomas and blood vessels surrounding granulomas. The expression pattern of VEGF co-localized with CD31 (platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule, PECAM-1), a blood endothelial cell marker, and partially co-localized with Tβ4. However, the expression of Tβ4 did not co-localize with alveolar macrophages. Stained alveolar macrophages were present surrounding regions of granuloma highly expressing Tβ4. We also analyzed mRNA expression in the sputum of 10 normal and 19 pulmonary TB patients. Expression of Tβ4 was significantly higher in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis than in normal controls. These data suggest that Tβ4 is highly expressed in granulomatous lung tissue with active pulmonary TB and is associated with HIF-1α- and VEGF-mediated inflammation and angiogenesis. Furthermore, the expression of Tβ4 in the sputum of pulmonary tuberculosis patients can be used as a potential marker for diagnosis.
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Thymosin β4-sulfoxide attenuates inflammatory cell infiltration and promotes cardiac wound healing. Nat Commun 2013; 4:2081. [PMID: 23820300 PMCID: PMC3797509 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms3081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2013] [Accepted: 05/30/2013] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The downstream consequences of inflammation in the adult mammalian heart are formation of a non-functional scar, pathological remodelling and heart failure. In zebrafish, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) released from a wound is the initial instructive chemotactic cue for the infiltration of inflammatory cells, however, the identity of a subsequent resolution signal(s), to attenuate chronic inflammation, remains unknown. Here we reveal that Thymosin β4-Sulfoxide inhibits interferon-γ, and increases monocyte dispersal and cell death, lies downstream of H2O2 in the wounded fish and triggers depletion of inflammatory macrophages at the injury site. This function is conserved in the mouse and observed after cardiac injury, where it promotes wound healing and reduced scarring. In human T cell/CD14+ monocyte co-cultures, Tβ4-SO inhibits IFN-γ and increases monocyte dispersal and cell death, likely by stimulating superoxide production. Thus, Tβ4-SO is a putative target for therapeutic modulation of the immune response, resolution of fibrosis and cardiac repair.
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Rebours V, Le Faouder J, Laouirem S, Mebarki M, Albuquerque M, Camadro JM, Léger T, Ruszniewski P, Lévy P, Paradis V, Bedossa P, Couvelard A. In situ proteomic analysis by MALDI imaging identifies ubiquitin and thymosin-β4 as markers of malignant intraductal pancreatic mucinous neoplasms. Pancreatology 2013; 14:117-24. [PMID: 24650966 DOI: 10.1016/j.pan.2013.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2013] [Revised: 12/06/2013] [Accepted: 12/09/2013] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Intraductal pancreatic mucinous neoplasms (IPMN) are precancerous cystic lesions. The aim was to investigate the in situ IPMN proteome using MALDI (Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionisation) imaging and to characterize biomarkers associated with the grade of dysplasia. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN Frozen human Branch duct -IPMN sections were selected according to dysplasia and proteomic analyses were performed by MALDI imaging to obtain mass spectra distribution. The most discriminating peaks were identified using tissue extraction and nanoLC-ESI-MS/MS. Identified peaks were validated in independent series of IPMN by immunochemistry on surgical specimens (tissue-microarrays (TMA), n = 45) and endoscopic ultrasound fine-needle aspiration (EUS FNA) samples (n = 25). RESULTS BD-IPMN samples with low (n = 10) and high (n = 10) grades of dysplasia were analyzed. Differential spectra of proteins were found in the two groups with significantly different intensities (n = 15). The two peaks (intense in high grade IPMN) (m/z 8565 and 4747) were characterized as the monomeric ubiquitin (Mascot score = 319.22) and an acetylated fragment of thymosin-β4 (2-42) (Omssa score = 1.37 E-9). Validation on TMA and EUS FNA samples confirmed that ubiquitin was overexpressed in high grade dysplasia (p = 0.04 and p = 0.0004). Thymosin-β4 expression was confirmed on TMA by immunohistochemistry on high grade IPMN (p = 0.011). CONCLUSION Ubiquitin and thymosin-β4 are overexpressed in IPMN with high grade dysplasia. Positive immunochemical staining on EUS-FNA material is a major argument in support of preventive resection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vinciane Rebours
- Pancreatology Department, Beaujon Hospital, AP-HP, Clichy, Paris-Diderot University, France; Inserm U773-CRB3, Paris-Diderot University, Paris, France.
| | | | | | - Mounya Mebarki
- Inserm U773-CRB3, Paris-Diderot University, Paris, France
| | - Miguel Albuquerque
- Inserm U773-CRB3, Paris-Diderot University, Paris, France; Pathology Department, Beaujon Hospital, AP-HP, Clichy, Paris-Diderot University, France
| | - Jean-Michel Camadro
- Mass Spectrometry Facility, Jacques Monod Institute, UMR7592, Paris-Diderot University - CNRS, Paris, France; Molecular and Cellular Pathology Program, Jacques Monod Institute, UMR7592, Paris-Diderot University - CNRS, Paris, France
| | - Thibaut Léger
- Mass Spectrometry Facility, Jacques Monod Institute, UMR7592, Paris-Diderot University - CNRS, Paris, France
| | - Philippe Ruszniewski
- Pancreatology Department, Beaujon Hospital, AP-HP, Clichy, Paris-Diderot University, France; Inserm U773-CRB3, Paris-Diderot University, Paris, France
| | - Philippe Lévy
- Pancreatology Department, Beaujon Hospital, AP-HP, Clichy, Paris-Diderot University, France
| | - Valérie Paradis
- Inserm U773-CRB3, Paris-Diderot University, Paris, France; Pathology Department, Beaujon Hospital, AP-HP, Clichy, Paris-Diderot University, France
| | - Pierre Bedossa
- Inserm U773-CRB3, Paris-Diderot University, Paris, France; Pathology Department, Beaujon Hospital, AP-HP, Clichy, Paris-Diderot University, France
| | - Anne Couvelard
- Inserm U773-CRB3, Paris-Diderot University, Paris, France; Pathology Department, Bichat Hospital, AP-HP, Paris-Diderot University, France
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Ock MS, Cha HJ, Choi YH. Verifiable hypotheses for thymosin β4-dependent and -independent angiogenic induction of Trichinella spiralis-triggered nurse cell formation. Int J Mol Sci 2013; 14:23492-8. [PMID: 24351861 PMCID: PMC3876058 DOI: 10.3390/ijms141223492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2013] [Revised: 11/22/2013] [Accepted: 11/22/2013] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Trichinella spiralis has been reported to induce angiogenesis for nutrient supply and waste disposal by the induction of the angiogenic molecule vascular endothelial cell growth factor (VEGF) during nurse cell formation. However, the action mechanism to induce VEGF in nurse cells by T. spiralis is not known. Hypoxia in nurse cells was suggested as a possible mechanism; however, the presence of hypoxic conditions in infected muscle or nurse cells and whether hypoxia indeed induces the expression of VEGF and subsequent angiogenesis in the infected muscle are both a matter of debate. Our recent studies have shown that thymosin β4, a potent VEGF inducing protein, is expressed in the very early stages of T. spiralis muscle infection suggesting the induction of VEGF in early stage nurse cells. Nevertheless, we now show that hypoxic conditions were not detected in any nurse cell stage but were detected only in the accumulated inflammatory cells. These studies propose that induction of angiogenesis by VEGF in T. spiralis-infected nurse cells was mediated by thymosin β4 and is unrelated to hypoxic conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mee Sun Ock
- Department of Parasitology and Genetics, Kosin University College of Medicine, Busan 602-702, Korea; E-Mail:
| | - Hee-Jae Cha
- Department of Parasitology and Genetics, Kosin University College of Medicine, Busan 602-702, Korea; E-Mail:
- Institute for Medical Science, Kosin University College of Medicine, Busan 602-702, Korea
- Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mails: (H.-J.C.); (Y.H.C.); Tel.: +82-51-990-6428 (H.-J.C.); +82-51-850-7413 (Y.H.C.); Fax: +82-51-990-3081 (H.-J.C.); +82-51-853-4036 (Y.H.C.)
| | - Yung Hyun Choi
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Oriental Medicine, Anti-Aging Research Center, Dongeui University, Busan 614-052, Korea
- Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mails: (H.-J.C.); (Y.H.C.); Tel.: +82-51-990-6428 (H.-J.C.); +82-51-850-7413 (Y.H.C.); Fax: +82-51-990-3081 (H.-J.C.); +82-51-853-4036 (Y.H.C.)
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Xu TJ, Wang Q, Ma XW, Zhang Z, Zhang W, Xue XC, Zhang C, Hao Q, Li WN, Zhang YQ, Li M. A novel dimeric thymosin beta 4 with enhanced activities accelerates the rate of wound healing. DRUG DESIGN DEVELOPMENT AND THERAPY 2013; 7:1075-88. [PMID: 24109178 PMCID: PMC3792846 DOI: 10.2147/dddt.s50183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Thymosin beta 4 (Tβ4) is a peptide with 43 amino acids that is critical for repair and remodeling tissues on the skin, eye, heart, and neural system following injury. To fully realize its utility as a treatment for disease caused by injury, the authors constructed a cost-effective novel Tβ4 dimer and demonstrated that it was better able to accelerate tissue repair than native Tβ4. METHODS A prokaryotic vector harboring two complete Tβ4 genes with a short linker was constructed and expressed in Escherichia coli. A pilot-scale fermentation (10 L) was performed to produce engineered bacteria and the Tβ4 dimer was purified by one-step hydrophobic interaction chromatography. The activities of the Tβ4 dimer to promote endothelial cell proliferation, migration, and sprouting were assessed by tetramethylbenzidine (methylthiazol tetrazolium), trans-well, scratch, and tube formation assays. The ability to accelerate dermal healing was assessed on rats. RESULTS After fermentation, the Tβ4 dimer accounted for about 30% of all the bacteria proteins. The purity of the Tβ4 dimer reached 98% after hydrophobic interaction chromatography purification. An average of 562.4 mg/L Tβ4 dimer was acquired using a 10 L fermenter. In each assay, the dimeric Tβ4 exhibited enhanced activities compared with native Tβ4. Notably, the ability of the dimeric Tβ4 to promote cell migration was almost two times higher than that of Tβ4. The rate of dermal healing in the dimeric Tβ4-treated rats was approximately 1 day faster than with native Tβ4-treated rats. CONCLUSION The dimeric Tβ4 exhibited enhanced activity on wound healing than native Tβ4, and the purification process was simple and cost-effective. This data could be of significant benefit for the high pain and morbidity associated with chronic wounds disease. A better strategy to develop Tβ4 as a treatment for other diseases caused by injuries such as heart attack, neurotrophic keratitis, and multiple sclerosis was also described.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tian-Jiao Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, Biotechnology Center, School of Pharmacy, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, People's Republic of China ; The Institute of Medicine, Qiqihar Medical University, Qiqihar, People's Republic of China
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Kasthuri SR, Premachandra H, Umasuthan N, Whang I, Lee J. Structural characterization and expression analysis of a beta-thymosin homologue (Tβ) in disk abalone, Haliotis discus discus. Gene 2013; 527:376-83. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2013.04.079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2012] [Revised: 04/05/2013] [Accepted: 04/23/2013] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Effects of thymosin β4 on the bone formation of calvarial defects in rats. J Prosthodont Res 2013; 57:162-8. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jpor.2013.01.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2012] [Revised: 12/03/2012] [Accepted: 01/22/2013] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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Burris TP, Solt LA, Wang Y, Crumbley C, Banerjee S, Griffett K, Lundasen T, Hughes T, Kojetin DJ. Nuclear receptors and their selective pharmacologic modulators. Pharmacol Rev 2013; 65:710-78. [PMID: 23457206 PMCID: PMC11060414 DOI: 10.1124/pr.112.006833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 180] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Nuclear receptors are ligand-activated transcription factors and include the receptors for steroid hormones, lipophilic vitamins, sterols, and bile acids. These receptors serve as targets for development of myriad drugs that target a range of disorders. Classically defined ligands that bind to the ligand-binding domain of nuclear receptors, whether they are endogenous or synthetic, either activate receptor activity (agonists) or block activation (antagonists) and due to the ability to alter activity of the receptors are often termed receptor "modulators." The complex pharmacology of nuclear receptors has provided a class of ligands distinct from these simple modulators where ligands display agonist/partial agonist/antagonist function in a tissue or gene selective manner. This class of ligands is defined as selective modulators. Here, we review the development and pharmacology of a range of selective nuclear receptor modulators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas P Burris
- The Scripps Research Institute, 130 Scripps Way 2A1, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA.
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Vandevyver S, Dejager L, Tuckermann J, Libert C. New insights into the anti-inflammatory mechanisms of glucocorticoids: an emerging role for glucocorticoid-receptor-mediated transactivation. Endocrinology 2013; 154:993-1007. [PMID: 23384835 DOI: 10.1210/en.2012-2045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 210] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Glucocorticoids are anti-inflammatory drugs that are widely used for the treatment of numerous (autoimmune) inflammatory diseases. They exert their actions by binding to the glucocorticoid receptor (GR), a member of the nuclear receptor family of transcription factors. Upon ligand binding, the GR translocates to the nucleus, where it acts either as a homodimeric transcription factor that binds glucocorticoid response elements (GREs) in promoter regions of glucocorticoid (GC)-inducible genes, or as a monomeric protein that cooperates with other transcription factors to affect transcription. For decades, it has generally been believed that the undesirable side effects of GC therapy are induced by dimer-mediated transactivation, whereas its beneficial anti-inflammatory effects are mainly due to the monomer-mediated transrepressive actions of GR. Therefore, current research is focused on the development of dissociated compounds that exert only the GR monomer-dependent actions. However, many recent reports undermine this dogma by clearly showing that GR dimer-dependent transactivation is essential in the anti-inflammatory activities of GR. Many of these studies used GR(dim/dim) mutant mice, which show reduced GR dimerization and hence cannot control inflammation in several disease models. Here, we review the importance of GR dimers in the anti-inflammatory actions of GCs/GR, and hence we question the central dogma. We summarize the contribution of various GR dimer-inducible anti-inflammatory genes and question the use of selective GR agonists as therapeutic agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofie Vandevyver
- VIB-Department for Molecular Biomedical Research /Ugent, Technologiepark 927, Zwijnaarde 9052, Belgium
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