Downregulated ribosomal protein L39 inhibits trophoblast cell migration and invasion by targeting E-cadherin in the placenta of patients with preeclampsia

Generation of transient totipotent blastomere-like stem cells by short-term high-dose Pladienolide B treatment

As an alternative model for studying the dynamic process of early mammalian embryonic development, much progress has been made in using mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) to generate embryo-like structures, especially by modifying the starting cells. A previous study has demonstrated that totipotent blastomere-like cells (TBLCs) can be obtained by continuous treatment of mESCs with a low-dose splicing inhibitor, Pladienolide B (PlaB). However, these totipotent mESCs have limited proliferative capacity. Here, we report that short-term high-dose PlaB treatment can also induce mESCs to acquire totipotency. This treatment equips this novel type of stem cells with the ability to self-organize into blastoids and recapitulate key preimplantation developmental processes. Therefore, the stem cells are termed transient totipotent blastomere-like stem cells (tTBLCs). Transcriptome analysis showed that tTBLC blastoids bore similarities to mouse E3.5 blastocysts, E4.5 blastocysts, and TBLC blastoids. Additionally, we found that tTBLC blastoids could develop beyond the implantation stage, forming egg-cylinder-like structures both in vitro and in vivo. In summary, our research provides an alternative rapid and convenient method to generate the starting cells capable of developing into blastoids, which have immense application in various fields, not only in the basic study of early mouse embryogenesis but also in high-throughput drug screening.

Filamin A suppresses the expression of ribosomal protein genes by controlling the activity of an EGR1-Sp1-GCN5/PCAF pathway in human cells

Human ribosome biogenesis requires four types of rRNA molecules and almost eighty cytoplasmic ribosomal proteins (CRPs) to be assembled together. . In the previous work, we showed that cytoskeletal filamin A (FLNA) can suppress rRNA expression in human cells. Thus, we hypothesized that FLNA can modulate the expression of CRPs because human cells have to coordinate cellular ribosome biogenesis. Here, we show that the absence of FLNA enhances the expression of most CRP genes assayed in the work, whereas the presence of FLNA dampens the expression of these CRP genes in several transformed cell types. The analysis of RNA-seq data revealed that FLNA silencing activated the expression of almost all CRPs and many mitochondrial RP genes in SaOS2 cells. These results indicate that FLNA acts as a negative regulator in CRP expression in human cells. Mechanistically, FLNA inhibits the expression of GCN5 and PCAF, which consequently impedes the occupancies of GCN5, PCAF, andH3K9ac at CRP gene loci. Both GCN5 and PCAF participates in the regulation of CRP expression either mediated by FLNA or independently. We show that FLNA silencing activates Sp1 expression and the activation of Sp1 stimulates the expression of Gcn5 and Pcaf genes. Further analysis revealed that EGR1 can bind the Sp1 gene promoter and activate Sp1 transcription. Collectively, this study revealed an EGR1-Sp1-GCN5/PCAF pathway by which FLNA modulates the expression of CRP genes. These findings shed light on how human cells coordinate the expression of CRP genes during ribosomal biogenesis.

Role of E-cadherin in epithelial barrier dysfunction: implications for bacterial infection, inflammation, and disease pathogenesis

Epithelial barriers serve as critical defense lines against microbial infiltration and maintain tissue homeostasis. E-cadherin, an essential component of adherens junctions, has emerged as a pivotal molecule that secures epithelial homeostasis. Lately, its pleiotropic role beyond barrier function, including its involvement in immune responses, has become more evident. Herein, we delve into the intricate relationship between (dys)regulation of epithelial homeostasis and the versatile functionality of E-cadherin, describing complex mechanisms that underlie barrier integrity and disruption in disease pathogenesis such as bacterial infection and inflammation, among others. Clinical implications of E-cadherin perturbations in host pathophysiology are emphasized; downregulation, proteolytic phenomena, abnormal localization/signaling and aberrant immune reactions are linked with a broad spectrum of pathology beyond infectious diseases. Finally, potential therapeutic interventions that may harness E-cadherin to mitigate barrier-associated tissue damage are explored. Overall, this review highlights the crucial role of E-cadherin in systemic health, offering insights that could pave the way for strategies to reinforce/restore barrier integrity and treat related diseases.

RPL39 Was Associated With Sex Differences in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a malignant cardiovascular disease with a complex etiology, in which several types of cells play important roles. Sex differences in disease susceptibility and survival have been observed in PAH patients, but few studies have analyzed the effect of changes in cell type and number on sex differences in PAH at the single-cell level. In this study, we performed a series of analyses on GSE169471 and GSE228644 datasets and found significant changes in the ratio of several types of cells in male PAH lung tissues. Surprisingly, we found that the ratio of macrophages in male PAH samples was 7 times higher than that in females. Consistently, the ratio of M1 macrophages was also significantly increased in male PAH samples. The different expression genes (DEGs) in macrophages were mainly involved in the ribosome pathway, which is closely related to cell proliferation. Inhibition of ribosomal protein L39 (RPL39), a core gene in the ribosome pathway, can inhibit macrophage proliferation and attenuate the sex differences in PAH. In conclusion, our study suggests that ribosome pathway-associated cell proliferation of macrophages might be associated with sex differences in PAH.

Research Progress of Ribosomal Proteins in Reproductive Development

Ribosomal proteins constitute the principal components of ribosomes, and their functions span a wide spectrum. Recent investigations have unveiled their involvement in oocyte and embryo development, playing a pivotal role in reproductive development. Numerous pieces of evidence indicate that ribosomal proteins participate in the regulation of various cellular activities, including nucleolar stress, oxidative stress, cell proliferation and autophagy. Despite these findings, the precise mechanisms through which ribosomal proteins influence reproductive development via these cellular activities remain elusive. Therefore, elucidating the mechanisms of action is essential for a comprehensive understanding of the role and function of ribosomal proteins in reproductive development. This paper systematically reviews the progress in research on nucleolar stress, oxidative stress, cell proliferation and autophagy concerning ribosomal proteins during reproductive development. Furthermore, we explore the potential of ribosomal proteins as diagnostic markers for various diseases. Additionally, we propose the development of drugs and therapies targeting ribosomal proteins, underscoring the potential for novel medical interventions in the context of reproductive health.

Effect of Cyclosporine A on Th1/Th2 Cytokine Production by Decidual Stromal Cells Mediated by Trophoblast-derived Galectin-9

This study aimed to investigate the effect of cyclosporine A (CsA) on secretion of Th1 and Th2 cytokines by decidual stromal cells (DSCs) mediated by galectin (Gal)-9.HTR8/SVneo cells and primary trophoblasts were used for in vitro studies. Gal-9 expression was measured using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, CsA was used to regulate Gal-9 expression in trophoblasts. DSCs were treated with trophoblast supernatant and changes in Th1 and Th2 cytokine levels were analyzed. Changes in DSC levels of the T-cell immunoglobulin mucin receptor 3 (TIM-3) levels in DSCs after treatment with Gal-9 were assessed. Western blotting and ERK and AKT inhibitors were used to assess the involvement of the corresponding signaling pathways. Gal-9 was expressed by both primary trophoblasts and HTR8/SVneo cells. CsA treatment increased Gal-9 secretion by trophoblasts, which in turn increased IL-6 (Th2 cytokine) and decreased TNF-α and IFN-γ (Th1 cytokines) secretion in DSCs. Upon downregulation of trophoblast Gal-9 secretion, DSCs secreted lower levels of Th2 cytokines and higher levels of Th1 cytokines, and the effect was reversed by addition of CsA. TIM-3 expression changed in parallel with Gal-9 secretion. CsA treatment upregulated expression of Gal-9 in trophoblasts, promoted secretion of Th2 cytokines, and inhibited secretion of Th1 cytokines via ERK signaling.

The Effect of the cAMP Signaling Pathway on HTR8/SV-Neo Cell Line Proliferation, Invasion, and Migration After Treatment with Forskolin

Pre-eclampsia (PE) is thought to be related to placental dysfunction, particularly poor extravillous trophoblast (EVT) invasion and migration abilities. However, the pathogenic mechanism is not fully understood. This article describes the impact of the cyclic adenosine monophosphate(cAMP) signaling pathway on EVT behavior, focusing on EVT proliferation, invasion, and migration. Here, we used the HTR8/SV-neo cell line to study human EVT function in vitro. HTR8/SV-neo cells were treated with different concentrations of forskolin (cAMP pathway-specific agonist) to alter intracellular cAMP levels, and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) was used as the control. First, a cAMP assay was performed to measure the cAMP concentration in HTR8/SV-neo cells treated with different forskolin concentrations, and cell proliferation was assessed by constructing cell growth curves and assessing colony formation. Cell invasion and migration were observed by Transwell experiments, and intracellular epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) marker expression was evaluated by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and Western blotting (WB). According to our research, the intracellular cAMP levels in HTR8/SV-neo cells were increased in a dose-dependent manner, and HTR8/SV-neo cell proliferation, invasion and migration were significantly enhanced. The expression of EMT and angiogenesis markers was upregulated. Additionally, with the increase in intracellular cAMP levels, the phosphorylation of intracellular mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway components was significantly increased. These results suggested that the cAMP signaling pathway promoted the phosphorylation of MAPK signaling components, thus enhancing EVT functions, including proliferation, invasion, and migration, and to a certain extent, providing a novel direction for the treatment of PE patients.

Biomolecules Involved in Both Metastasis and Placenta Accreta Spectrum-Does the Common Pathophysiological Pathway Exist?

The process of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is crucial in the implantation of the blastocyst and subsequent placental development. The trophoblast, consisting of villous and extravillous zones, plays different roles in these processes. Pathological states, such as placenta accreta spectrum (PAS), can arise due to dysfunction of the trophoblast or defective decidualization, leading to maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. Studies have drawn parallels between placentation and carcinogenesis, with both processes involving EMT and the establishment of a microenvironment that facilitates invasion and infiltration. This article presents a review of molecular biomarkers involved in both the microenvironment of tumors and placental cells, including placental growth factor (PlGF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), E-cadherin (CDH1), laminin γ2 (LAMC2), the zinc finger E-box-binding homeobox (ZEB) proteins, αVβ3 integrin, transforming growth factor β (TGF-β), β-catenin, cofilin-1 (CFL-1), and interleukin-35 (IL-35). Understanding the similarities and differences in these processes may provide insights into the development of therapeutic options for both PAS and metastatic cancer.

Single-cell RNA binding protein regulatory network analyses reveal oncogenic HNRNPK-MYC signalling pathway in cancer

RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) are key players of gene expression and perturbations of RBP-RNA regulatory network have been observed in various cancer types. Here, we propose a computational method, RBPreg, to identify the RBP regulators by integration of single cell RNA-Seq (N = 233,591) and RBP binding data. Pan-cancer analyses suggest that RBP regulators exhibit cancer and cell specificity and perturbations of RBP regulatory network are involved in cancer hallmark-related functions. We prioritize an oncogenic RBP-HNRNPK, which is highly expressed in tumors and associated with poor prognosis of patients. Functional assays performed in cancer cells reveal that HNRNPK promotes cancer cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistic investigations further demonstrate that HNRNPK promotes tumorigenesis and progression by directly binding to MYC and perturbed the MYC targets pathway in lung cancer. Our results provide a valuable resource for characterizing RBP regulatory networks in cancer, yielding potential biomarkers for precision medicine.

Potential genetic biomarkers predict adverse pregnancy outcome during early and mid-pregnancy in women with systemic lupus erythematosus

BACKGROUND

Effectively predicting the risk of adverse pregnancy outcome (APO) in women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) during early and mid-pregnancy is a challenge. This study was aimed to identify potential markers for early prediction of APO risk in women with SLE.

METHODS

The GSE108497 gene expression dataset containing 120 samples (36 patients, 84 controls) was downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus database. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) was performed, and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were screened to define candidate APO marker genes. Next, three individual machine learning methods, random forest, support vector machine-recursive feature elimination, and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator, were combined to identify feature genes from the APO candidate set. The predictive performance of feature genes for APO risk was assessed using area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) and calibration curves. The potential functions of these feature genes were finally analyzed by conventional gene set enrichment analysis and CIBERSORT algorithm analysis.

RESULTS

We identified 321 significantly up-regulated genes and 307 down-regulated genes between patients and controls, along with 181 potential functionally associated genes in the WGCNA analysis. By integrating these results, we revealed 70 APO candidate genes. Three feature genes, SEZ6, NRAD1, and LPAR4, were identified by machine learning methods. Of these, SEZ6 (AUC = 0.753) showed the highest in-sample predictive performance for APO risk in pregnant women with SLE, followed by NRAD1 (AUC = 0.694) and LPAR4 (AUC = 0.654). After performing leave-one-out cross validation, corresponding AUCs for SEZ6, NRAD1, and LPAR4 were 0.731, 0.668, and 0.626, respectively. Moreover, CIBERSORT analysis showed a positive correlation between regulatory T cell levels and SEZ6 expression (P < 0.01), along with a negative correlation between M2 macrophages levels and LPAR4 expression (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Our preliminary findings suggested that SEZ6, NRAD1, and LPAR4 might represent the useful genetic biomarkers for predicting APO risk during early and mid-pregnancy in women with SLE, and enhanced our understanding of the origins of pregnancy complications in pregnant women with SLE. However, further validation was required.