Epigenetic regulation of chemokine (CC-motif) ligand 2 in inflammatory diseases

Decoding the role of the CCL2/CCR2 axis in Alzheimer's disease and innovating therapeutic approaches: Keeping All options open

Alzheimer's disease (AD), as a neurodegenerative disorder, distresses the elderly in large numbers and is characterized by β-amyloid (Aβ) accumulation, elevated tau protein levels, and chronic inflammation. The brain's immune system is aided by microglia and astrocytes, which produce chemokines and cytokines. Nevertheless, dysregulated expression can cause hyperinflammation and lead to neurodegeneration. CCL2/CCR2 chemokines are implicated in neurodegenerative diseases exacerbating. Inflicting damage on nerves and central nervous system (CNS) cells is the function of this axis, which recruits and migrates immune cells, including monocytes and macrophages. It has been shown that targeting the CCL2/CCR2 axis may be a therapeutic option for inflammatory diseases. Using the current knowledge about the involvement of the CCL2/CCR2 axis in the immunopathogenesis of AD, this comprehensive review synthesizes existing information. It also explores potential therapeutic options, including modulation of the CCL2/CCR2 axis as a possible strategy in AD.

MCP-1 controls IL-17-promoted monocyte migration and M1 polarization in osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a low-grade inflammatory joint illness in which monocytes migrate and infiltrate synovial tissue, differentiating into the pro-inflammatory M1 macrophage phenotype. IL-17 is a proinflammatory mediator principally generated by Th17 cells, which is elevated in OA patients; nevertheless, investigators have yet to elucidate the function of IL-17 in M1 polarization during OA development. Our analysis of clinical tissues and results from the open online dataset discovered that the level of M1 macrophage markers is elevated in human OA tissue samples than in normal tissue. High-throughput screening demonstrated that MCP-1 is a potential candidate factor after IL-17 treatment in OA synovial fibroblasts (OASFs). Immunohistochemistry data revealed that the level of MCP-1 is higher in humans and mice with OA than in normal tissues. IL-17 stimulation facilitates MCP-1-dependent macrophage polarization to the M1 phenotype. It also appears that IL-17 enhances MCP-1 synthesis in human OASFs, enhancing monocyte migration via the JAK and STAT3 signaling cascades. Our findings indicate the IL-17/MCP-1 axis as a novel strategy for the remedy of OA.

The occurrence and development of induced pluripotent stem cells

The ectopic expression of four transcription factors, Oct3/4, Sox2, Klf4, and c-Myc (OSKM), known as "Yamanaka factors," can reprogram or stimulate the production of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). Although OSKM is still the gold standard, there are multiple ways to reprogram cells into iPSCs. In recent years, significant progress has been made in improving the efficiency of this technology. Ten years after the first report was published, human pluripotent stem cells have gradually been applied in clinical settings, including disease modeling, cell therapy, new drug development, and cell derivation. Here, we provide a review of the discovery of iPSCs and their applications in disease and development.

Network pharmacology-based strategy combined with molecular docking to explore the potential mechanism of agarwood against recurrent aphthous stomatitis

To explore the antiinflammatory mechanism of agarwood on recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS). RAS is the most common mucosal disease in the oral cavity. The clinical application of traditional Chinese medicine found that agarwood has significant curative effect on peptic ulcer, but the effect and mechanism of agarwood on RAS remain unclear. This study is intended to predict the potential antiinflammatory mechanisms by which agarwood acts on RAS through network pharmacology and molecular docking. TCMSP database was used to screen the active components of agarwood. RAS targets were screened in Genecards, DisGeNET, and OMIM database. Venny, an online tool, screens for interacting genes between the two. Cytoscape software was used to construct the gene regulation map of active compounds target of agarwood. String Database building protein-protein interaction network. Gene ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathways were enriched in DAVID database. The key active ingredients and core targets were further verified by molecular docking. There were 9 effective compounds and 186 target genes in agarwood; RAS has 793 target genes. There were 41 interacting genes between agarwood and RAS. Interleukin 6, tumor necrosis factor, interleukin 1 beta, and cellular component motif ligand 2 may be key targets. Gene ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analyses predicted multiple pathways associated with RAS. Molecular docking results showed that the active compounds of agarwood combined well and stably with the target. The Chinese herbal medicine agarwood can relieve the inflammation of RAS through multiple targets and various ways. Its active compounds may be nominated as candidates for antiinflammatory drugs of RAS.

Role of MCP-1 as an inflammatory biomarker in nephropathy

The Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), also referred to as chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2), belongs to the extensive chemokine family and serves as a crucial mediator of innate immunity and tissue inflammation. It has a notable impact on inflammatory conditions affecting the kidneys. Upon binding to its receptor, MCP-1 can induce lymphocytes and NK cells' homing, migration, activation, differentiation, and development while promoting monocytes' and macrophages' infiltration, thereby facilitating kidney disease-related inflammation. As a biomarker for kidney disease, MCP-1 has made notable advancements in primary kidney diseases such as crescentic glomerulonephritis, chronic glomerulonephritis, primary glomerulopathy, idiopathic proteinuria glomerulopathy, acute kidney injury; secondary kidney diseases like diabetic nephropathy and lupus nephritis; hereditary kidney diseases including autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease and sickle cell kidney disease. MCP-1 not only predicts the occurrence, progression, prognosis of the disease but is also closely associated with the severity and stage of nephropathy. When renal tissue is stimulated or experiences significant damage, the expression of MCP-1 increases, demonstrating a direct correlation with the severity of renal injury.