Human and mouse angiogenins: Emerging insights and potential opportunities

Wound Healing Effect of HDACi Repositioned Molecules in the Therapy for Chronic Wounds Models

Globally, chronic wounds impact the health of millions of people, negatively affecting quality of life and healthcare budgets. Some of the crucial steps and pathways in healing mechanisms are the hypoxic response and the expression of host defence peptides, which are decreased in diseases related to chronic wounds such as diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular diseases. It has been shown that histone deacetylase inhibitors can induce the expression of Host Defence Peptides (HDP) by inducing the stabilisation and activation of hypoxia-inducible factor 1-α (HIF-1α), promoting wound healing pathways, although their high cost and side effects limit clinical research. With the help of bioinformatics tools, we found potential histone deacetylase inhibitor candidates in an FDA-approved drugs database. The candidates, 1,3-Diphenylurea (DiPU), 2'-Aminoacetanilide (Ace), and Tert-butyl (2-aminophenyl) carbamate (N-boc), show wound healing effects in HaCaT cells, increasing cell migration possibly via HIF-1α, inducing the expression of LL-37 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), while in a mouse ring angiogenesis model, Ace and N-boc have angiogenic effects. In a model of basal primary keratinocytes from donors with diabetes mellitus (DM), without DM, and from Diabetic Foot Ulcers (DFU), it was observed that only DiPU is capable of inducing LL-37 in all scenarios. There is limited information about histone deacetylase inhibitors and wound healing but in this paper, we observe promising results and a proposed mechanism that involved specifically Histone Deacetylase 1 inhibition (HDAC1).

Assay for ribosome stimulation of angiogenin nuclease activity

Angiogenin (RNase 5) is an unusual member of the RNase A family with very weak RNase activity and a preference for tRNA. The tRNAs cleaved by angiogenin are thought to have a variety of roles in cellular processes including translation reprogramming, apoptosis, angiogenesis, and neuroprotection. We recently demonstrated that angiogenin is potently activated by the cytoplasmic 80S ribosome. Angiogenin's binding to the ribosome rearranges the C-terminus of the protein, opening the active site for the cleavage of tRNA delivered to the ribosomal A site which angiogenin occupies. Here, we describe the biochemical procedure to test angiogenin's activation by the ribosome using the assay termed the Ribosome Stimulated Angiogenin Nuclease Assay (RiSANA). RiSANA can be used to test the activity of wild-type or mutant angiogenin, or other RNases, against different tRNAs and with different ribosome complexes. For example, given that angiogenin has been implicated in anti-microbial activity, we tested the ability of bacterial 70S ribosomes to stimulate angiogenin activity and found that the E. coli ribosome does not stimulate angiogenin. We also assayed whether angiogenin's closest homolog, RNase 4, could be stimulated by the ribosome, but unlike angiogenin this enzyme was not further activated by the ribosome. The RiSANA assay promises to reveal new aspects of angiogenin mechanism and may aid in the development of new diagnostic tools and therapeutics.

Mass spectrometry-based proteomic analysis of proteins adsorbed by hexadecyl-immobilized cellulose bead column for the treatment of dialysis-related amyloidosis

BACKGROUND

Dialysis-related amyloidosis (DRA) is a severe complication in end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) patients undergoing long-term dialysis treatment, characterized by the deposition of β2-microglobulin-related amyloids (Aβ2M amyloid). To inhibit DRA progression, hexadecyl-immobilized cellulose bead (HICB) columns are employed to adsorb circulating β2-microglobulin (β2M). However, it is possible that the HICB also adsorbs other molecules involved in amyloidogenesis.

METHODS

We enrolled 14 ESKD patients using HICB columns for DRA treatment; proteins were extracted from HICBs following treatment and identified using liquid chromatography-linked mass spectrometry. We measured the removal rate of these proteins and examined the effect of those molecules on Aβ2M amyloid fibril formation in vitro.

RESULTS

We identified 200 proteins adsorbed by HICBs. Of these, 21 were also detected in the amyloid deposits in the carpal tunnels of patients with DRA. After passing through the HICB column and hemodialyzer, the serum levels of proteins such as β2M, lysozyme, angiogenin, complement factor D and matrix Gla protein were reduced. These proteins acted in the Aβ2M amyloid fibril formation.

CONCLUSIONS

HICBs adsorbed diverse proteins in ESKD patients with DRA, including those detected in amyloid lesions. Direct hemoperfusion utilizing HICBs may play a role in acting Aβ2M amyloidogenesis by reducing the amyloid-related proteins.

Evidence that the loss of colonic anti-microbial peptides may promote dysbiotic Gram-negative inflammaging-associated bacteria in aging mice

Introduction: Aging studies in humans and mice have played a key role in understanding the intestinal microbiome and an increased abundance of "inflammaging" Gram-negative (Gn) bacteria. The mechanisms underlying this inflammatory profile in the aging microbiome are unknown. We tested the hypothesis that an aging-related decrease in colonic crypt epithelial cell anti-microbial peptide (AMP) gene expression could promote colonic microbiome inflammatory Gn dysbiosis and inflammaging. Methods: As a model of aging, C57BL/6J mice fecal (colonic) microbiota (16S) and isolated colonic crypt epithelial cell gene expression (RNA-seq) were assessed at 2 months (mth) (human: 18 years old; yo), 15 mth (human: 50 yo), and 25 mth (human: 84 yo). Informatics examined aging-related microbial compositions, differential colonic crypt epithelial cell gene expressions, and correlations between colonic bacteria and colonic crypt epithelial cell gene expressions. Results: Fecal microbiota exhibited significantly increased relative abundances of pro-inflammatory Gn bacteria with aging. Colonic crypt epithelial cell gene expression analysis showed significant age-related downregulation of key AMP genes that repress the growth of Gn bacteria. The aging-related decrease in AMP gene expressions is significantly correlated with an increased abundance in Gn bacteria (dysbiosis), loss of colonic barrier gene expression, and senescence- and inflammation-related gene expression. Conclusion: This study supports the proposed model that aging-related loss of colonic crypt epithelial cell AMP gene expression promotes increased relative abundances of Gn inflammaging-associated bacteria and gene expression markers of colonic inflammaging. These data may support new targets for aging-related therapies based on intestinal genes and microbiomes.

Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) and Its Rich Ellagitannins as Potential Inhibitors in Ulcerative Colitis

Ulcerative colitis, an immune-mediated inflammatory disease of the gastrointestinal tract, places a significant financial burden on patients and the healthcare system. Recently, reviews of the pomegranate and the abundant medicinal applications of its ellagitannins, as well as its pharmacological action, phytochemicals, metabolism, and pharmacokinetics, have been completed. However, summaries on their anti-ulcerative colitis effects are lacking. Numerous preclinical animal investigations and clinical human trial reports demonstrated the specific therapeutic effects of pomegranate and the effect of its ellagitannins against ulcerative colitis. According to the literature collected by Sci-finder and PubMed databases over the past 20 years, this is the first review that has compiled references regarding how the rich ellagitannins found in pomegranate have altered the ulcerative colitis. It was suggested that the various parts of pomegranates and their rich ellagitannins (especially their primary components, punicalagin, and ellagic acid) can inhibit oxidant and inflammatory processes, regulate the intestinal barrier and flora, and provide an anti-ulcerative colitis resource through dietary management.

Interleukin-30 subverts prostate cancer-endothelium crosstalk by fostering angiogenesis and activating immunoregulatory and oncogenic signaling pathways

BACKGROUND

Cancer-endothelial interplay is crucial for tumor behavior, yet the molecular mechanisms involved are largely unknown. Interleukin(IL)-30, which is expressed as a membrane-anchored cytokine by human prostate cancer (PC) cells, promotes PC vascularization and progression, but the underlying mechanisms have yet to be fully explored.

METHODS

PC-endothelial cell (EC) interactions were investigated, after coculture, by flow cytometry, transcriptional profiling, western blot, and ELISA assays. Proteome profiler phospho-kinase array unveiled the molecular pathways involved. The role of tumor-derived IL30 on the endothelium's capacity to generate autocrine circuits and vascular budding was determined following IL30 overexpression, by gene transfection, or its deletion by CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing. Clinical value of the experimental findings was determined through immunopathological study of experimental and patient-derived PC samples, and bioinformatics of gene expression profiles from PC patients.

RESULTS

Contact with PC cells favors EC proliferation and production of angiogenic and angiocrine factors, which are boosted by PC expression of IL30, that feeds autocrine loops, mediated by IGF1, EDN1, ANG and CXCL10, and promotes vascular budding and inflammation, via phosphorylation of multiple signaling proteins, such as Src, Yes, STAT3, STAT6, RSK1/2, c-Jun, AKT and, primarily CREB, GSK-3α/β, HSP60 and p53. Deletion of the IL30 gene in PC cells inhibits endothelial expression of IGF1, EDN1, ANG and CXCL10 and substantially impairs tumor angiogenesis. In its interaction with IL30-overexpressing PC cells the endothelium boosts their expression of a wide range of immunity regulatory genes, including CCL28, CCL4, CCL5, CCR2, CCR7, CXCR4, IL10, IL13, IL17A, FASLG, IDO1, KITLG, TNFA, TNFSF10 and PDCD1, and cancer driver genes, including BCL2, CCND2, EGR3, IL6, VEGFA, KLK3, PTGS1, LGALS4, GNRH1 and SHBG. Immunopathological analyses of PC xenografts and in silico investigation of 1116 PC cases, from the Prostate Cancer Transcriptome Atlas, confirmed the correlation between the expression of IL30 and that of both pro-inflammatory genes, NOS2, TNFA, CXCR5 and IL12B, and cancer driver genes, LGALS4, GNRH1 and SHBG, which was validated in a cohort of 80 PC patients.

CONCLUSIONS

IL30 regulates the crosstalk between PC and EC and reshapes their transcriptional profiles, triggering angiogenic, immunoregulatory and oncogenic gene expression programs. These findings highlight the angiostatic and oncostatic efficacy of targeting IL30 to fight PC.