GOLM1 Promotes Pulmonary Fibrosis through Upregulation of NEAT1

Selenium alleviates cadmium-induced Golgi stress via HSPB7/GM130/CX-43 axis in the heart of sheep

Cadmium (Cd) is a hazardous pollutant and its widespread exposure causes subcellular damage leading to cardiotoxicity. Selenium (Se) possesses the capacity to antagonize Cd toxicity, alleviating the organ damage induced by Cd. However, the relationship between Se mitigation of Cd exposure-induced myocardial damage and the Golgi apparatus remains to be further elucidated. Thus, 48 sheep were divided into four groups and treated with 1 mg Cd kg-1·BW or/and 0.34 mg Se kg-1·BW for 50 days. Results showed that Cd exposure caused myocardial myogenic fiber breakage, widened Z-line blurred and swelled of the Golgi apparatus. Cd exposure downregulated the levels of MyoD, MyoG, MyHC, CX-43 and GM130, upregulated the levels of cTnT, FLNC, GOLPH2 and GOLPH3, as well as reduced the number of fluorescent co-localization sites between CX-43 and GM130. Besides, Cd has increased the levels of heat shock proteins (HSPs) and decreased the number of fluorescent colocalization points between HSPB7 and GM130. However, co-treatment with Se ameliorated the above factors alterations associated with Cd exposure. In summary, Se attenuated Cd-induced myocardial injury and Golgi stress in sheep via activation of the HSPB7/GM130/CX-43 axis.

Mesenchymal stem cell exosomes regulate TGFβ/Smad3 by decreasing the METTL3-NEAT1 axis to inhibit scar progression after breast surgery

BACKGROUND

Scars are traces of tissue loss left behind by connective tissue overgrowth and repair. Studies in recent years have shown that mesenchymal stem cell exosomes (MSC-Exo) have the ability to inhibit and repair cutaneous scarring, but their specific role in post-breast surgery scar formation and the mechanisms behind it remain enigmatic.

METHODS

Extraction and characterization of exosomes from mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Western Blot and RT-qPCR were used to evaluate the expression of fibrillar protein and TGF-β/Smad3 in mammary hypertrophic scar fibroblasts (MHSFs) stimulated with MSC-Exo, sh-METTL3, sh-NEAT1 and their negative controls. Construction of a mouse model of proliferative scar formation using mechanical tension and detection of fibronectin and pathway protein expression using Western Blot and RT-qPCR. Pathologic changes of mammary scarring in mice using HE staining, Masson staining and immunofluorescence.

RESULTS

Both in vitro and in vivo, MSC-Exo, sh-METTL3 and sh-NEAT1 were shown to decrease the expression of COL1A1, COL3A1, α-SMA, fibronectin, TGF-β, p-Smad2/Smad2, p-Smad3/Smad3, by Western Blot and RT-qPCR. In addition, improved lesions and reduced collagen deposition were observed in mice by HE and Masson assays.

CONCLUSIONS

In summary, our study revealed that exosomes of MSCs function through the m6A methyltransferase METTL3, which regulates the NEAT1/TGF-β/Smad3 axis to slow down the rate of scar formation after breast surgery.

Proteomic analysis of premature umbilical cord blood and its relationship with bronchopulmonary dysplasia

BACKGROUND

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) frequently occurs in preterm infants, causing significantly impaired lung function and increased mortality rates. Studies on plasma protein levels can facilitate early detection of BPD, enabling prompt intervention and a decrease in mortality.

METHODS

We conducted a prospective observational study involving proteomic sequencing of plasma samples from 19 preterm infants. Our analysis included principal component analysis, volcano plots, heatmap analysis, enrichment analysis, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis.

RESULTS

Infants with BPD were characterized by increased levels of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-binding protein (LBP), X-ray repair cross-complementing protein 6 (XRCC6), GLI pathogenesis-related 1 (GLIPR1), Golgi membrane Protein 1(GOLM1), immunoglobulin kappa variable (IGKV1-5), and immunoglobulin kappa variable 1-33 (IGKV1-33) in cord blood. Additionally, gene pathway analysis revealed a significant correlation between the pathways associated with these genes and BPD, particularly pathways involved in the immune system, innate immune system, neutrophil degranulation, prion diseases, regulation of the actin cytoskeleton, and the MAPK signaling. The proteins amine oxidase copper containing 3 (AOC3) and H4 clustered histone 6 (H4C6) were diagnostically significant. Additionally, H4C6 was negatively correlated with intraventricular haemorrhage and patent ductus arteriosus, and positively correlated with antenatal steroid administration. AOC3 was also positively correlated with antenatal steroid use.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that the development of BPD is associated with changes in the plasma proteome of preterm infants. Specifically, the levels of AOC3 and H4C6 in the bloodstream could serve as biomarkers for the early detection of BPD in preterm infants. Furthermore, we found that GOLM1, lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-binding protein, XRCC6, and the contribution of neutrophil degranulation may play a crucial role in the development of therapies for BPD.

The triple code model for advancing research in rare and undiagnosed diseases beyond the base pairs

Rare and undiagnosed diseases pose significant challenges for understanding their mechanisms, diagnosis, and treatment. The Triple Code Model, an integrative paradigm described here, considers the combined influence of the genetic code, epigenetic code, and nuclear structure (an emerging code), as fundamental biochemical mechanisms underlying many rare diseases. Studies demonstrate dysfunctional membrane and cytoplasmic signals instruct the epigenome to ultimately impact the 3D structure and dynamics of the nucleus, highlighting their close interrelationships. Consequently, this model offers a holistic perspective on rare and undiagnosed diseases by moving beyond a solely genetic view. We propose that this integrated framework will efficiently guide rare disease research by taking it 'Beyond the Base Pairs,' leading to improved diagnostics and personalized treatments.

Golgi protein 73: the driver of inflammation in the immune and tumor microenvironment

Golgi Protein 73 (GP73) is a Golgi-resident protein that is highly expressed in primary tumor tissues. Initially identified as an oncoprotein, GP73 has been shown to promote tumor development, particularly by mediating the transport of proteins related to epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), thus facilitating tumor cell EMT. Though our previous review has summarized the functional roles of GP73 in intracellular signal transduction and its various mechanisms in promoting EMT, recent studies have revealed that GP73 plays a crucial role in regulating the tumor and immune microenvironment. GP73 can modulate intracellular signaling pathways to influence cytokine and chemokine networks, resulting in inflammation caused by viral and bacterial infection or immune diseases, and leading tumor microenvironment deteriorated. Additionally, extracellular GP73 can also regulate signaling pathways of target cells by binding to their cell-surface receptors or entering the acceptor cells, thereby facilitating inflammation or promoting tumor development. In this review, we aim to summarize the findings, providing insights for future investigations on GP73 and its potential as a therapeutic target in ameliorating chronic inflammation in the immune and tumor microenvironment.

Anoikis and SPP1 in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: integrating bioinformatics, cell, and animal studies to explore prognostic biomarkers and PI3K/AKT signaling regulation

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to explore the relevance of anoikis in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and identify associated biomarkers and signaling pathways.

METHOD

Unsupervised consensus cluster analysis was employed to categorize IPF patients into subtypes. We utilized Weighted Gene Co-Expression Network Analysis (WGCNA) and Protein-Protein Interaction network construction to identify anoikis-related modules and key genes. A prognostic signature was developed using Lasso and multivariate Cox regression analysis. Single-cell sequencing assessed hub gene expression in various cell types, and both cell and animal experiments confirmed IPF-related pathways.

RESULTS

We identified two distinct anoikis-associated subtypes with differing prognoses. WGCNA revealed essential hub genes, with SPP1 being prominent in the anoikis-related signature. The anoikis-related signature is effective in determining the prognosis of patients with IPF. Single-cell sequencing highlighted significant differences in SPP1 expression, notably elevated in fibroblasts derived from IPF patients. In vivo and in vitro experiments demonstrated that SPP1 enhances fibrosis in mouse lung fibroblasts by regulating p27 through the PI3K/Akt pathway.

CONCLUSION

Our research demonstrates a robust prognostic signature associated with anoikis and highlights SPP1 as a pivotal regulator of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway in pulmonary fibrosis.