C-Peptide Promotes Cell Migration by Controlling Matrix Metallopeptidase-9 Activity Through Direct Regulation of β-Catenin in Human Endometrial Stromal Cells

ARHGEF3 coordinates adipocyte hypertrophy and differentiation through dual YAP-RhoA and PPARγ activation

INTRODUCTION

Obesity presents a significant global health burden, necessitating insights into the molecular drivers of adipogenesis and adipose tissue regulation.

OBJECTIVES

This study investigates the role of Rho guanine nucleotide exchange factor 3 (ARHGEF3) in adipocyte differentiation and hypertrophy, focusing on its influence on adipogenesis and body weight regulation under high-fat diet conditions.

METHODS

ARHGEF3-/- mice and littermate controls were subjected to a high-fat diet (HFD) and underwent comprehensive metabolic phenotyping. In vitro studies in C3H10T1/2 cells were conducted to assess ARHGEF3's role in adipogenesis, utilizing quantitative PCR, western blotting, chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP), immunoprecipitation (IP), immunostaining, and luciferase reporter assays.

RESULTS

ARHGEF3 expression increased in white adipose tissue (WAT) of HFD-fed mice and during adipogenic differentiation in C3H10T1/2 cells. ARHGEF3-deficient mice exhibited reduced weight gain and adipocyte size, correlating with decreased RhoA expression and altered cytoskeletal dynamics. Additionally, ARHGEF3 facilitated yes-associated protein (YAP) nuclear translocation and its direct binding to the RhoA promoter, an effect reliant on ARHGEF3. ARHGEF3 also enhanced the transcriptional activity of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ), establishing a reciprocal activation loop to drive adipocyte differentiation and hypertrophy.

CONCLUSION

ARHGEF3 emerges as a pivotal regulator of adipocyte dynamics by coordinating YAP-RhoA signaling and enhancing PPARγ activity. These findings offer novel therapeutic insights for addressing obesity and related metabolic disorders.

Evolution of branched peptides as novel biomaterials

Branched peptide-based materials draw inspiration from dendritic structures to emulate the complex architecture of native tissues, aiming to enhance the performance of biomaterials in medical applications. These innovative materials benefit from several key features: they exhibit slower degradation rates, greater stiffness, and the ability to self-assemble. These properties are crucial for maintaining the structural integrity and functionality of the materials over time. By integrating bioactive peptides and natural polymers within their branched frameworks, these materials offer modularity and tunability and can accommodate a range of mechanical properties, degradation rates, and biological functions making them suitable for biomedical applications, including drug delivery systems, wound healing scaffolds, and tissue engineering constructs. In drug delivery, these materials can be engineered to release therapeutic agents in a controlled manner, enhancing the efficacy and safety of treatments. In wound healing, they provide a supportive environment which promotes rapid and efficient tissue repair. The combination of biomimetic design and functional adaptability makes branched peptide-based materials a promising candidate for the development of next-generation biomaterials, paving the way for significant advancements in healthcare.

The Extracts from Two Antarctic Fish Species, Trematomus newnesi and Trematomus bernacchii, Enhance JEG-3 Cell Migration and Invasion via MMP9 Activation Through Akt/Protein Phosphatase1/β-Catenin Pathway

SCOPE

This study investigates the impact of extracts derived from Antarctic fish species, Trematomus newnesi and Trematomus bernacchii, on the migration of human placental trophoblast JEG-3 cells, which is a crucial aspect of successful pregnancy.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The extracts, obtained from the muscles of these fish, significantly enhance the migration and invasion of JEG-3 cells in in vitro wound healing, Transwell, and collagen invasion assays. These effects are accompanied by an increase in matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) 9 activity, as demonstrated by zymography. Furthermore, the extracts activated Akt and protein phosphatase 1, resulting in the dephosphorylation of β-catenin at Ser33/37/Thr41, as confirmed by western blot analysis. Consequently, MMP9 is upregulated, while metallopeptidase inhibitor 1/3 is downregulated, as verified by western blot and qRT-PCR analyses. Finally, utilizing ultraperformance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) analysis, followed by matching with the Global Natural Product Social Molecular Networking library, the study annotates the compound responsible for the observed migratory activity as taurocholic acid. Importantly, the study confirms that taurocholic acid enhances cell migration in JEG-3 cells.

CONCLUSION

The results of this study emphasize the potential of Antarctic fish extracts in promoting extravillous trophoblast migration and invasion, which are critical for successful pregnancy.

The recent progress of peptide regulators for the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway

Wnt signaling plays an important role in many biological processes such as stem cell self-renewal, cell proliferation, migration, and differentiation. The β-catenin-dependent signaling pathway mainly regulates cell proliferation, differentiation, and migration. In the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, the Wnt family ligands transduce signals through LRP5/6 and Frizzled receptors to the Wnt/β-catenin signaling cascades. Wnt-targeted therapy has garnered extensive attention. The most commonly used approach in targeted therapy is small-molecule regulators. However, it is difficult for small-molecule regulators to make great progress due to their inherent defects. Therapeutic peptide regulators targeting the Wnt signaling pathway have become an alternative therapy, promising to fill the gaps in the clinical application of small-molecule regulators. In this review, we describe recent advances in peptide regulators for Wnt/β-catenin signaling.

Double life: How GRK2 and β-arrestin signaling participate in diseases

G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) kinases (GRKs) and β-arrestins play key roles in GPCR and non-GPCR cellular responses. In fact, GRKs and arrestins are involved in a plethora of pathways vital for physiological maintenance of inter- and intracellular communication. Here we review decades of research literature spanning from the discovery, identification of key structural elements, and findings supporting the diverse roles of these proteins in GPCR-mediated pathways. We then describe how GRK2 and β-arrestins partake in non-GPCR signaling and briefly summarize their involvement in various pathologies. We conclude by presenting gaps in knowledge and our prospective on the promising pharmacological potential in targeting these proteins and/or downstream signaling. Future research is warranted and paramount for untangling these novel and promising roles for GRK2 and arrestins in metabolism and disease progression.