Roles of PTEN with DNA Repair in Parkinson's Disease

Compound FLZ attenuates neuroinflammation through inhibiting Src/PTEN/Akt signaling pathway

Compound FLZ has neuroprotective effects on Parkinson's disease (PD), while the precise mechanism remains unclear. In this study, we found that FLZ decreased PTEN/Akt activity in LPS-challenged BV2 cells. Neuroinflammatory responses suppressed by FLZ were abolished when PTEN or Src was inhibited. Additionally, FLZ weakened the interactions of Src and PTEN, and attenuated Src phosphorylation once PETN was inhibited, but failed to decrease PTEN phosphorylation when Src was silenced. Eventually, we elaborated that FLZ bound to Src directly and inhibited its activity. Collectively, FLZ attenuated neuroinflammation through inhibiting Src/PTEN/Akt pathway, paving the way for clinical use of FLZ to treat PD.

miRVim: Three-dimensional miRNA Structure Database

INTRODUCTION

MicroRNAs (miRNAs), a distinct category of non-coding RNAs, exert multifaceted regulatory functions in a variety of organisms, including humans, animals, and plants. The inventory of identified miRNAs stands at approximately 60,000 among all species and 1,926 in Homo sapiens manifests miRNA expression. Their theranostic role has been explored by researchers over the last few decades, positioning them as prominent therapeutic targets as our understanding of RNA targeting advances. However, limited availability of experimentally determined miRNA structures has constrained drug discovery efforts relying on virtual screening or computational methods, including machine learning and artificial intelligence.

METHODS

To address this lacuna, miRVim has been developed, providing a repository of human miRNA structures derived from both two-dimensional (MXFold2, CentroidFold, and RNAFold) and three-dimensional (RNAComposer and 3dRNA) structure prediction algorithms, in addition to experimentally available structures from the RCSB PDB repository.

RESULTS

miRVim contains 13,971 predicted secondary structures and 17,045 predicted three-dimensional structures filling the gap of unavailability of miRNA structure data bank. This database aims to facilitate computational data analysis for drug discovery, opening new avenues for advancing technologies such as machine learning-based predictions in the field of RNA biology.

CONCLUSION

The publicly accessible structures provided by miRVim, available at https://mirna.in/miRVim, offer a valuable resource for the research community, advancing the field of miRNA-related computational analysis and drug discovery.

MicroRNA biomarkers as next-generation diagnostic tools for neurodegenerative diseases: a comprehensive review

Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) are characterized by abnormalities within neurons of the brain or spinal cord that gradually lose function, eventually leading to cell death. Upon examination of affected tissue, pathological changes reveal a loss of synapses, misfolded proteins, and activation of immune cells-all indicative of disease progression-before severe clinical symptoms become apparent. Early detection of NDs is crucial for potentially administering targeted medications that may delay disease advancement. Given their complex pathophysiological features and diverse clinical symptoms, there is a pressing need for sensitive and effective diagnostic methods for NDs. Biomarkers such as microRNAs (miRNAs) have been identified as potential tools for detecting these diseases. We explore the pivotal role of miRNAs in the context of NDs, focusing on Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Multiple sclerosis, Huntington's disease, and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. The review delves into the intricate relationship between aging and NDs, highlighting structural and functional alterations in the aging brain and their implications for disease development. It elucidates how miRNAs and RNA-binding proteins are implicated in the pathogenesis of NDs and underscores the importance of investigating their expression and function in aging. Significantly, miRNAs exert substantial influence on post-translational modifications (PTMs), impacting not just the nervous system but a wide array of tissues and cell types as well. Specific miRNAs have been found to target proteins involved in ubiquitination or de-ubiquitination processes, which play a significant role in regulating protein function and stability. We discuss the link between miRNA, PTM, and NDs. Additionally, the review discusses the significance of miRNAs as biomarkers for early disease detection, offering insights into diagnostic strategies.

Melatonin-Loaded Nanoparticles Augment Mitophagy to Retard Parkinson's Disease

The molecular pathways that melatonin follows as a Parkinson's disease (PD) antagonist remain poorly elucidated, despite it being a safe and a potential neurotherapeutic drug with a few limitations such as less bioavailability, premature oxidation, brain delivery, etc. Here, we used a biocompatible protein (HSA) nanocarrier for the delivery of melatonin to the brain. This nanomelatonin showed better antioxidative and neuroprotective properties, and it not only improves mitophagy to remove unhealthy mitochondria but also improves mitochondrial biogenesis to counteract rotenone-induced toxicity in an in vitro PD model. We also showed BMI1, a member of the PRC1 complex that regulates mitophagy, whose protein expression was enhanced after nanomelatonin dosage. These effects were translated to a rodent model, where nanomelatonin improves the TH+ve neuron population in SNPC and protects against rotenone-mediated toxicity. Our findings highlight the significantly better in vitro and in vivo neuroprotective effect of nanomelatonin as well as the molecular/cellular dynamics it influences to regulate mitophagy as a measure of the potential therapeutic candidate for PD.

MicroRNA networks linked with BRCA1/2, PTEN, and common genes for Alzheimer's disease and breast cancer share highly enriched pathways that may unravel targets for the AD/BC comorbidity treatment

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are involved in the regulation of various cellular processes including pathological conditions. MiRNA networks have been extensively researched in age-related degenerative diseases, such as cancer, Alzheimer's disease (AD), and heart failure. Thus, miRNA has been studied from different approaches, in vivo, in vitro, and in silico including miRNA networks. Networks linking diverse biomedical entities unveil information not readily observable by other means. This work focuses on biological networks related to Breast cancer susceptibility 1 (BRCA1) in AD and breast cancer (BC). Using various bioinformatics approaches, we identified subnetworks common to AD and BC that suggest they are linked. According to our results, miR-107 was identified as a potentially good candidate for both AD and BC treatment (targeting BRCA1/2 and PTEN in both diseases), accompanied by miR-146a and miR-17. The analysis also confirmed the involvement of the miR-17-92 cluster, and miR-124-3p, and highlighted the importance of poorly researched miRNAs such as mir-6785 mir-6127, mir-6870, or miR-8485. After filtering the in silico analysis results, we found 49 miRNA molecules that modulate the expression of at least five genes common to both BC and AD. Those 49 miRNAs regulate the expression of 122 genes in AD and 93 genes in BC, from which 26 genes are common genes for AD and BC involved in neuron differentiation and genesis, cell differentiation and migration, regulation of cell cycle, and cancer development. Additionally, the highly enriched pathway was associated with diabetic complications, pointing out possible interplay among molecules underlying BC, AD, and diabetes pathology.

A New Concept of Associations between Gut Microbiota, Immunity and Central Nervous System for the Innovative Treatment of Neurodegenerative Disorders

Nerve cell death accounts for various neurodegenerative disorders, in which altered immunity to the integrated central nervous system (CNS) might have destructive consequences. This undesirable immune response often affects the progressive neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, schizophrenia and/or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). It has been shown that commensal gut microbiota could influence the brain and/or several machineries of immune function. In other words, neurodegenerative disorders may be connected to the gut-brain-immune correlational system. The engrams in the brain could retain the information of a certain inflammation in the body which might be involved in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders. Tactics involving the use of probiotics and/or fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) are now evolving as the most promising and/or valuable for the modification of the gut-brain-immune axis. More deliberation of this concept and the roles of gut microbiota would lead to the development of stupendous treatments for the prevention of, and/or therapeutics for, various intractable diseases including several neurodegenerative disorders.

A comprehensive bioinformatic analysis revealed novel MicroRNA biomarkers of Parkinson's disease

Parkinson's disease (PD) is categorized as a neurodegenerative disorder. Different studies have focused on the role of microRNAs (miRNAs) on PD progression. Due to its complexity in initiation and progression, a considerable requirement has arisen to identify novel miRNA biomarkers in a noninvasive manner. In silico analysis has been used to select differentially expressed miRNAs (DE-miRNAs) and key pathways in this disease. In this manner, several data sets of different neurodegenerative diseases have been analyzed to purify the findings of the present study. Totally, 15 DE miRNAs showed significant changes compared to healthy controls and other neurodegenerative diseases. Then, the targets of the miRNAs were predicted through miRTarBase and TargetScan databases. Besides, enrichment analysis was implemented for predicted target genes. Most of the target genes were enriched in the TRAIL signaling pathway, Regulation of nucleobase, nucleoside, nucleotide and nucleic acid metabolism, protein serine/threonine kinase activity, and Cytoplasm. Moreover, a protein-protein interaction network was constructed to find the most key DE miRNAs and targets in this disease. The results of the present study may help researchers shed light on the discovery of novel biomarkers for PD.

Neurohormetic phytochemicals in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases

The world population is progressively ageing, assuming an enormous social and health challenge. As the world ages, neurodegenerative diseases are on the rise. Regarding the progressive nature of these diseases, none of the neurodegenerative diseases are curable at date, and the existing treatments can only help relieve the symptoms or slow the progression. Recently, hormesis has increased attention in the treatment of age-related neurodegenerative diseases. The concept of hormesis refers to a biphasic dose-response phenomenon, where low levels of the drug or stress exert protective of beneficial effects and high doses deleterious or toxic effects. Neurohormesis, as the adaptive aspect of hormetic dose responses in neurons, has been shown to slow the onset of neurodegenerative diseases and reduce the damages caused by aging, stroke, and traumatic brain injury. Hormesis was also observed to modulate anxiety, stress, pain, and the severity of seizure. Thus, neurohormesis can be considered as a potentially innovative approach in the treatment of neurodegenerative and other neurologic disorders. Herbal medicinal products and supplements are often considered health resources with many applications. The hormesis phenomenon in medicinal plants is valuable and several studies have shown that hormetic mechanisms of bioactive compounds can prevent or ameliorate the neurodegenerative pathogenesis in animal models of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. Moreover, the hormesis activity of phytochemicals has been evaluated in other neurological disorders such as Autism and Huntington’s disease. In this review, the neurohormetic dose–response concept and the possible underlying neuroprotection mechanisms are discussed. Different neurohormetic phytochemicals used for the better management of neurodegenerative diseases, the rationale for using them, and the key findings of their studies are also reviewed.

Transcription-associated DNA DSBs activate p53 during hiPSC-based neurogenesis

Neurons are overproduced during cerebral cortical development. Neural progenitor cells (NPCs) divide rapidly and incur frequent DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) throughout cortical neurogenesis. Although half of the neurons born during neurodevelopment die, many neurons with inaccurate DNA repair survive leading to brain somatic mosaicism. Recurrent DNA DSBs during neurodevelopment are associated with both gene expression level and gene length. We used imaging flow cytometry and a genome-wide DNA DSB capture approach to quantify and map DNA DSBs during human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-based neurogenesis. Reduced p53 signaling was brought about by knockdown (p53KD); p53KD led to elevated DNA DSB burden in neurons that was associated with gene expression level but not gene length in neural progenitor cells (NPCs). Furthermore, DNA DSBs incurred from transcriptional, but not replicative, stress lead to p53 activation in neurotypical NPCs. In p53KD NPCs, DNA DSBs accumulate at transcription start sites of genes that are associated with neurological and psychiatric disorders. These findings add to a growing understanding of how neuronal genome dynamics are engaged by high transcriptional or replicative burden during neurodevelopment.

SOS1-IT1 silencing alleviates MPP+-induced neuronal cell injury through regulating the miR-124-3p/PTEN/AKT/mTOR pathway

Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) has been found to be involved in the regulation of a variety of disease progression, including Parkinson's disease (PD). However, the role and underlying mechanism of SOS1 intronic transcript 1 (SOS1-IT1) in the progression of PD is still unclear. 1-methyl-4-phenyl pyridine (MPP⁺) induced SK-N-SH cells were used to construct PD cell models in vitro. The expression levels of SOS1-IT1, microRNA (miR)-124-3p and phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) were determined using quantitative real-time PCR. Cell counting kit 8 assay and flow cytometry were used to measure cell viability and apoptosis. Western blot analysis was performed to detect protein expression. The levels of inflammation cytokines and oxidative stress markers were examined to assess cell inflammation and oxidative stress. In addition, dual-luciferase reporter assay, RIP assay and RNA pull-down assay were used to confirm RNA interaction. Our results showed that SOS1-IT1 was upregulated in MPP⁺-induced SK-N-SH cells, and its silencing reversed the inhibition effect of MPP⁺ on the viability and the promotion effect on the apoptosis, inflammation and oxidative stress of SK-N-SH cells. MiR-124-3p was targeted by SOS1-IT1, and its inhibitor reversed the suppressive effect of SOS1-IT1 knockdown on MPP⁺-induced SK-N-SH cell injury. Furthermore, PTEN was a target of miR-124-3p, and the reduction effect of miR-124-3p on MPP⁺-induced SK-N-SH cell injury was reversed by PTEN overexpression. Additionally, the activity of AKT/mTOR pathway was regulated by the SOS1-IT1/miR-124-3p/PTEN axis. In conclusion, SOS1-IT1 regulated the miR-124-3p/PTEN/AKT/mTOR pathway to participate in the regulation of MPP⁺-induced neuronal cell injury, indicating the SOS1-IT1 might be an effective therapeutic target for PD.

Nanomedicine for Neurodegenerative Disorders: Focus on Alzheimer's and Parkinson's Diseases

Neurodegenerative disorders involve the slow and gradual degeneration of axons and neurons in the central nervous system (CNS), resulting in abnormalities in cellular function and eventual cellular demise. Patients with these disorders succumb to the high medical costs and the disruption of their normal lives. Current therapeutics employed for treating these diseases are deemed palliative. Hence, a treatment strategy that targets the disease's cause, not just the symptoms exhibited, is desired. The synergistic use of nanomedicine and gene therapy to effectively target the causative mutated gene/s in the CNS disease progression could provide the much-needed impetus in this battle against these diseases. This review focuses on Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases, the gene/s and proteins responsible for the damage and death of neurons, and the importance of nanomedicine as a potential treatment strategy. Multiple genes were identified in this regard, each presenting with various mutations. Hence, genome-wide sequencing is essential for specific treatment in patients. While a cure is yet to be achieved, genomic studies form the basis for creating a highly efficacious nanotherapeutic that can eradicate these dreaded diseases. Thus, nanomedicine can lead the way in helping millions of people worldwide to eventually lead a better life.

miR-29c-3p regulates TET2 expression and inhibits autophagy process in Parkinson's disease models

Autophagy in dopamine (DA) neurons is concerned to be associated with Parkinson's disease (PD), but the detailed mechanism remains unknown. Herein, we aimed to investigate the function of microRNA (miR)-29c-3p in autophagy in PD models. Intraperitoneal injection of MPTP (20 mg/kg) was given to C57BL/6 mice to establish PD mouse model. SH-SY5Y cells were treated with MPP⁺ (1 mmol/L) to establish in vitro PD model. The results indicated that in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) DA neurons of PD mice, autophagy was activated accompanied by down-regulated miR-29c-3p and up-regulated ten-eleven translocation 2 (TET2) expression. Up-regulation of miR-29c-3p inhibited TET2 expression and SNpc (including DA neurons) autophagy in PD mice. In vitro PD model confirmed that MPP⁺ treatment markedly down-regulated miR-29c-3p expression and up-regulated TET2 expression in SH-SY5Y cells in a dose/time-dependent manner. Moreover, miR-29c-3p up-regulation also inhibited autophagy and TET2 expression in vitro. Additionally, TET2 was proved to be targeted and down-regulated by miR-29c-3p. TET2 knockdown inhibited MPP⁺ -induced autophagy, whereas TET2 over-expression reversed the effects of miR-29c-3p over-expression on SH-SY5Y cell autophagy. Overall, miR-29c-3p over-expression inhibits autophagy in PD models, which may be mediated by TET2. Our finding may provide new insights for regulating autophagy to improve PD progression.

PTEN Expression Regulates Gap Junction Connectivity in the Retina

Manipulation of the phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) pathway has been suggested as a therapeutic approach to treat or prevent vision loss due to retinal disease. In this study, we investigated the effects of deleting one copy of Pten in a well-characterized class of retinal ganglion cells called α-ganglion cells in the mouse retina. In Pten +/- retinas, α-ganglion cells did not exhibit major changes in their dendritic structure, although most cells developed a few, unusual loop-forming dendrites. By contrast, α-ganglion cells exhibited a significant decrease in heterologous and homologous gap junction mediated cell coupling with other retinal ganglion and amacrine cells. Additionally, the majority of OFF α-ganglion cells (12/18 cells) formed novel coupling to displaced amacrine cells. The number of connexin36 puncta, the predominant connexin that mediates gap junction communication at electrical synapses, was decreased by at least 50% on OFF α-ganglion cells. Reduced and incorrect gap junction connectivity of α-ganglion cells will affect their functional properties and alter visual image processing in the retina. The anomalous connectivity of retinal ganglion cells would potentially limit future therapeutic approaches involving manipulation of the Pten pathway for treating ganglion cell degeneration in diseases like glaucoma, traumatic brain injury, Parkinson's, and Alzheimer's diseases.

Protein Interaction Studies for Understanding the Tremor Pathway in Parkinson's Disease

BACKGROUND

Tremor is one of the most noticeable features, which occurs during the early stages of Parkinson's Disease (PD). It is one of the major pathological hallmarks and does not have any interpreted mechanism. In this study, we have framed a hypothesis and deciphered protein- protein interactions between the proteins involved in impairment in sodium and calcium ion channels and thus cause synaptic plasticity leading to a tremor.

METHODS

Literature mining for retrieval of proteins was done using Science Direct, PubMed Central, SciELO and JSTOR databases. A well-thought approach was used, and a list of differentially expressed proteins in PD was collected from different sources. A total of 71 proteins were retrieved, and a protein interaction network was constructed between them by using Cytoscape.v.3.7. The network was further analysed using the BiNGO plugin for retrieval of overrepresented biological processes in Tremor-PD datasets. Hub nodes were also generated in the network.

RESULTS

The Tremor-PD pathway was deciphered, which demonstrates the cascade of protein interactions that might lead to tremors in PD. Major proteins involved were LRRK2, TUBA1A, TRAF6, HSPA5, ADORA2A, DRD1, DRD2, SNCA, ADCY5, TH, etc. Conclusion: In the current study, it is predicted that ADORA2A and DRD1/DRD2 are equally contributing to the progression of the disease by inhibiting the activity of adenylyl cyclase and thereby increases the permeability of the blood-brain barrier, causing an influx of neurotransmitters and together they alter the level of dopamine in the brain which eventually leads to tremor.

Protective role of anticancer drugs in neurodegenerative disorders: A drug repurposing approach

The disease heterogeneity and little therapeutic progress in neurodegenerative diseases justify the need for novel and effective drug discovery approaches. Drug repurposing is an emerging approach that reinvigorates the classical drug discovery method by divulging new therapeutic uses of existing drugs. The common biological background and inverse tuning between cancer and neurodegeneration give weight to the conceptualization of repurposing of anticancer drugs as novel therapeutics. Many studies are available in the literature, which highlights the success story of anticancer drugs as repurposed therapeutics. Among them, kinase inhibitors, developed for various oncology indications evinced notable neuroprotective effects in neurodegenerative diseases. In this review, we shed light on the salient role of multiple protein kinases in neurodegenerative disorders. We also proposed a feasible explanation of the action of kinase inhibitors in neurodegenerative disorders with more attention towards neurodegenerative disorders. The problem of neurotoxicity associated with some anticancer drugs is also highlighted. Our review encourages further research to better encode the hidden potential of anticancer drugs with the aim of developing prospective repurposed drugs with no toxicity for neurodegenerative disorders.

Role of tumor suppressor molecules in genomic perturbations and damaged DNA repair involved in the pathogenesis of cancer and neurodegeneration (Review)

Genomic perturbations due to inaccurate DNA replication, including inappropriate chromosomal segregation often underlie the development of cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. The incidence of these two diseases increases with age and exhibits an inverse association. Therefore, elderly subjects with cancer exhibit a reduced risk of a neurodegenerative disease, and vice versa. Both of these diseases are associated with aging and share several risk factors. Cells have multiple mechanisms to repair DNA damage and inaccurate replication. Previous studies have demonstrated that tumor suppressor proteins serve a critical role in the DNA damage response, which may result in genomic instability and thus induction of cellular apoptosis. Tumor suppressor genes, such as phosphatase and tensin homologue deleted on chromosome 10 (PTEN), breast cancer susceptibility gene 1 (BRCA1) and TP53 reduce genomic susceptibility to cancer by repairing the damaged DNA. In addition, these genes work cooperatively to ensure the inhibition of the development of several types of cancer. PTEN, BRCA1 and TP53 have been recognized as the most frequently deleted and/or mutated genes in various types of human cancer. Recently, tumor suppressor genes have also been shown to be involved in the development of neurodegenerative diseases. The present review summarizes the recent findings of the functions of these tumor suppressors that are associated with genomic stability, and are involved in carcinogenic and neurodegenerative cell signaling. A summary is presented regarding the interactions of these tumor suppressors with their partners which results in transduction of downstream signals. The implications of these functions for cancer and neurodegenerative disease-associated biology are also highlighted.

Special bioactive compounds and functional foods may exhibit neuroprotective effects in patients with dementia (Review)

Dementia is a failure of cognitive ability characterized by severe neurodegeneration in select neural systems, and Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common type of neurodegenerative disease. Although numerous studies have provided insights into the pathogenesis of AD, the underlying signaling and molecular pathways mediating the progressive decline of cognitive function remain poorly understood. Recent progress in molecular biology has provided an improved understanding of the importance of molecular pathogenesis of AD, and has proposed an association between DNA repair mechanisms and AD. In particular, the fundamental roles of phosphatase and tensin homologue deleted on chromosome 10 (PTEN) and breast cancer gene 1 (BRCA1) tumor suppressors have been shown to regulate the pathogenesis of neurodegeneration. Consequently, onset of neurodegenerative diseases may be deferred with the use of dietary neuroprotective agents which alter the signaling mediated by the aforementioned tumor suppressors. In a healthy neuron, homeostasis of key intracellular molecules is of great importance, and preventing neuronal apoptosis is one of the primary goals of treatments designed for dementia-associated diseases. In the present review, progress into the understanding of dietary regulation for preventing or limiting development of dementia is discussed with a focus on the modulatory roles of PTEN and BRCA1 signaling.

PTEN inhibitor VO-OHpic attenuates GC-associated endothelial progenitor cell dysfunction and osteonecrosis of the femoral head via activating Nrf2 signaling and inhibiting mitochondrial apoptosis pathway

Background

Glucocorticoid (GC)-associated osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) is the most common in non-traumatic ONFH. Despite a strong relationship between GC and ONFH, the detailed mechanisms have remained elusive. Recent studies have shown that GC could directly injure the blood vessels and reduce blood supply in the femoral head. Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs), which were inhibited quantitatively and functionally during ONFH, play an important role in maintaining the normal structure and function of vascular endothelium. Phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) is a tumor suppressor gene that promotes cell apoptosis, and its expression was found to be elevated in GC-associated ONFH patients. However, whether direct inhibition of PTEN attenuates GC-associated apoptosis and dysfunction of the EPCs remains largely unknown.

Methods

We investigated the effect of, VO-OHpic, a potent inhibitor of PTEN, in attenuating GC-associated apoptosis and dysfunction of EPCs and the molecular mechanism. SD rats were used to study the effect of VO-OHpic on angiogenesis and osteonecrosis in vivo.

Results

The results revealed that methylprednisolone (MPS) obviously inhibit angiogenesis of EPCs by inducing apoptosis, destroying the normal mitochondrial structure, and disrupting function of mitochondria. VO-OHpic treatment is able to reverse the harmful effects by inhibiting the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway and activating the NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) signaling. Si-Nrf2 transfection significantly reduced the protective effects of VO-OHpic on EPCs. Our in vivo studies also showed that intraperitoneal injection of VO-OHpic obviously attenuates the osteonecrosis of the femoral head induced by MPS and potently increases the blood supply in the femoral head.

Conclusion

Taken together, the data suggests that inhibition of PTEN with VO-OHpic attenuates apoptosis and promotes angiogenesis of EPCs in vitro via activating Nrf2 signaling pathway and inhibiting the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway. Moreover, VO-OHpic also mitigates GC-associated ONFH and potentiates angiogenesis in the femoral head.

SEAweb: the small RNA Expression Atlas web application

We present the Small RNA Expression Atlas (SEAweb), a web application that allows for the interactive querying, visualization and analysis of known and novel small RNAs across 10 organisms. It contains sRNA and pathogen expression information for over 4200 published samples with standardized search terms and ontologies. In addition, SEAweb allows for the interactive visualization and re-analysis of 879 differential expression and 514 classification comparisons. SEAweb's user model enables sRNA researchers to compare and re-analyze user-specific and published datasets, highlighting common and distinct sRNA expression patterns. We provide evidence for SEAweb's fidelity by (i) generating a set of 591 tissue specific miRNAs across 29 tissues, (ii) finding known and novel bacterial and viral infections across diseases and (iii) determining a Parkinson's disease-specific blood biomarker signature using novel data. We believe that SEAweb's simple semantic search interface, the flexible interactive reports and the user model with rich analysis capabilities will enable researchers to better understand the potential function and diagnostic value of sRNAs or pathogens across tissues, diseases and organisms.

SNHG1 promotes MPP+-induced cytotoxicity by regulating PTEN/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway in SH-SY5Y cells via sponging miR-153-3p

Background

Long non-coding RNA small molecule RNA host gene 1 (SNHG1) was previously identified to be relevant with Parkinson’s disease (PD) pathogenesis. This work aims to further elucidate the regulatory networks of SNHG1 involved in PD.

Methods

1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine-hydrochloride (MPTP)-induced mice and 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP⁺)-treated SH-SY5Y cells were respectively constructed as the in vivo and in vitro PD models. Expression levels of SNHG1 and miR-153-3p were detected by qRT-PCR. Protein expression levels of phosphate and tension homology deleted on chromosome ten (PTEN) were measured by western blotting assay. Cell viability and apoptosis were determined by MTT and flow cytometry assays. The interactions among SNHG1, miR-153-3p and PTEN were identified by luciferase reporter assay, RNA immunoprecipitation, and/or RNA pull-down analysis.

Results

Increased SNHG1 expression was found in midbrain of MPTP-induced PD mice and MPP⁺-treated SH-SY5Y cells. Overexpression of SNHG1 lowered viability and enhanced apoptosis in MPP⁺-treated SH-SY5Y cells. Moreover, SNHG1 acted as a molecular sponge to inhibit the expression of miR-153-3p. Furthermore, miR-153-3p-mediated suppression of MPP⁺-induced cytotoxicity was abated following SNHG1 up-regulation. Additionally, PTEN was identified as a direct target of miR-153-3p, and SNHG1 could serve as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) of miR-153-3p to improve the expression of PTEN. Besides, enforced expression of PTEN displayed the similar functions as SNHG1 overexpression in regulating the viability and apoptosis of MPP⁺-treated SH-SY5Y cells. Finally, SNHG1 was found to activate PTEN/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway in SH-SY5Y cells by targeting miR-153-3p.

Conclusion

SNHG1 aggravates MPP⁺-induced cellular toxicity in SH-SY5Y cells by regulating PTEN/AKT/mTOR signaling via sponging miR-153-3p, indicating the potential of SNHG1 as a promising therapeutic target for PD.

DNA double-strand breaks: a potential therapeutic target for neurodegenerative diseases

The complexity of neurodegeneration restricts the ability to understand and treat the neurological disorders affecting millions of people worldwide. Therefore, there is an unmet need to develop new and more effective therapeutic strategies to combat these devastating conditions and that will only be achieved with a better understanding of the biological mechanism associated with disease conditions. Recent studies highlight the role of DNA damage, particularly, DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs), in the progression of neuronal loss in a broad spectrum of human neurodegenerative diseases. This is not unexpected because neurons are prone to DNA damage due to their non-proliferative nature and high metabolic activity. However, it is not clear if DSBs is a primary driver of neuronal loss in disease conditions or simply occurs concomitant with disease progression. Here, we provide evidence that supports a critical role of DSBs in the pathogenesis of the neurodegenerative diseases. Among different kinds of DNA damages, DSBs are the most harmful and perilous type of DNA damage and can lead to cell death if left unrepaired or repaired with error. In this review, we explore the current state of knowledge regarding the role of DSBs repair mechanisms in preserving neuronal function and survival and describe how DSBs could drive the molecular mechanisms resulting in neuronal death in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. We also discuss the potential implications of DSBs as a novel therapeutic target and prognostic marker in patients with neurodegenerative conditions.

Role of MicroRNAs in Parkinson's Disease

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a disabling neurodegenerative disease that manifests with resting tremor, bradykinesia, rigidity and postural instability. Since the discovery of microRNAs (miRNAs) in 1993, miRNAs have been shown to be important biological molecules involved in diverse processes to maintain normal cellular functions. Over the past decade, many studies have reported dysregulation of miRNA expressions in PD. Here, we identified 15 miRNAs from 34 reported screening studies that demonstrated dysregulation in the brain and/or neuronal models, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and blood. Specific miRNAs-of-interest that have been implicated in PD pathogenesis include miR-30, miR-29, let-7, miR-485 and miR-26. However, there are several challenges and limitations in drawing definitive conclusions due to the small sample size in clinical studies, varied laboratory techniques and methodologies and their incomplete penetrance of the blood-brain barrier. Developing an optimal delivery system and unravelling druggable targets of miRNAs in both experimental and human models and clinical validation of the results may pave way for novel therapeutics in PD.

T cell dysfunction in chronic hepatitis B infection and liver cancer: evidence from transcriptome analysis

BACKGROUND

T cell dysfunction occurs in many diseases, especially in chronic virus infection and cancers. However, up to now, little is known on the distinctions in T cell exhaustion between cancer and chronic virus infection. The objective of this study is to explore the transcriptional similarities and differences in exhausted CD8 +T cell between chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

METHODS

RNA sequencing was performed to compare the transcriptome of CD8 +T cells isolated from healthy donors' blood, tumour tissues of patients with HCC and chronic HBV infected HCC patients' paracancerous tissues. DESeq2 algorithm was used to determine differentially expressed genes. Gene ontology and Kyoto Encyclopaedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis was conducted for in-depth analysis of these differentially expressed genes.

RESULTS

A total number of 2109 and 2203 genes were differentially expressed in patients with chronic HBV infection and HCC, respectively. Comparing these two groups of differentially deregulated genes, we found that nearly half of them were shared, and these shared genes were further classified into several functional categories, such as metabolic process, binding and intracellular organelle. KEGG analysis revealed that these shared deregulated genes were involved in many important pathways such as Parkinson's disease, oxidative phosphorylation and messenger RNA surveillance. Interestingly, we reported that chronic HBV infection specific deregulated genes were mainly enriched in graft versus host disease, allograft rejection, phenylalanine, tyrosine and tryptophan biosynthesis pathways. Whereas, HCC-specific deregulated genes were highly enriched in oxidative phosphorylation, thyroid cancer and endometrial cancer pathways.

CONCLUSION

Our study demonstrated that T cell dysfunction associated with HCC and chronic HBV infection shares high similarities, however, each possesses its own features in terms of specific genes and signalling pathways. Uncovering the differences of T cells dysfunction would facilitate our understanding the diseases pathogenesis and developing innovative therapies in the future.

PTEN inhibitor VO-OHpic attenuates inflammatory M1 macrophages and cardiac remodeling in doxorubicin-induced cardiomyopathy

Doxorubicin (Doxo) is an effective agent commonly used in cancer therapeutics. Unfortunately, Doxo treatment can stimulate cardiomyopathy and subsequent heart failure, limiting the use of this drug. The role of phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) in apoptosis has been documented in Doxo-induced cardiomyopathy (DIC) and heart failure models. However, whether direct inhibition of PTEN attenuates apoptosis, cardiac remodeling, and inflammatory M1 macrophages in the DIC model remains elusive. Therefore, the present study was designed to understand the effects of VO-OHpic (VO), a potent inhibitor of PTEN, in reducing apoptosis and cardiac remodeling. At day 56, echocardiography was performed, which showed that VO treatment significantly ( P < 0.05) improved heart function. Immunohistochemistry, TUNEL, and histological staining were used to determine apoptosis, proinflammatory M1 macrophages, anti-inflammatory M2 macrophages, and cardiac remodeling. Our data show a significant increase in apoptosis, hypertrophy, fibrosis, and proinflammatory M1 macrophages with Doxo treatment, whereas VO treatment significantly reduced apoptosis, adverse cardiac remodeling, and proinflammatory M1 macrophages significantly ( P < 0.05) compared with the Doxo-treated group. Western blot analysis confirmed the reduction of phosphorylated PTEN and increase in phosphorylated AKT protein expression in the Doxo + VO-treated group. Moreover, VO administration increased anti-inflammatory M2 macrophages. Collectively, our data suggest that VO treatment attenuates apoptosis and adverse cardiac remodeling, a process that is mediated through the PTEN/AKT pathway, resulting in improved heart function in DIC. NEW & NOTEWORTHY Doxorubicin-induced cardiomyopathy (DIC) is still a major issue in patients with cancer. These novel findings on the phosphatase and tensin homolog inhibitor VO-OHpic in DIC is the first report, as per the best of our knowledge, that VO-OHpic significantly decreases apoptosis, fibrosis, hypertrophy, adverse cardiac remodeling, and proinflammatory M1 macrophages and increases anti-inflammatory M2 macrophages along with significantly improved cardiac function. VO-OHpic could be a future therapeutic agent for patients with DIC.

Pure mechanistic analysis of additive neuroprotective effects between baicalin and jasminoidin in ischemic stroke mice

Both baicalin (BA) and jasminoidin (JA) are active ingredients in Chinese herb medicine Scutellaria baicalensis and Fructus gardeniae, respectively. They have been shown to exert additive neuroprotective action in ischemic stroke models. In this study we used transcriptome analysis to explore the pure therapeutic mechanisms of BA, JA and their combination (BJ) contributing to phenotype variation and reversal of pathological processes. Mice with middle cerebral artery obstruction were treated with BA, JA, their combination (BJ), or concha margaritifera (CM). Cerebral infarct volume was examined to determine the effect of these compounds on phenotype. Using the hippocampus microarray and ingenuity pathway analysis (IPA) software, we exacted the differentially expressed genes, networks, pathways, and functions in positive-phenotype groups (BA, JA and BJ) by comparing with the negative-phenotype group (CM). In the BA, JA, and BJ groups, a total of 7, 4, and 11 specific target molecules, 1, 1, and 4 networks, 51, 59, and 18 canonical pathways and 70, 53, and 64 biological functions, respectively, were identified. Pure therapeutic mechanisms of BA and JA were mainly overlapped in specific target molecules, functions and pathways, which were related to the nervous system, inflammation and immune response. The specific mechanisms of BA and JA were associated with apoptosis and cancer-related signaling and endocrine and hormone regulation, respectively. In the BJ group, novel target profiles distinct from mono-therapies were revealed, including 11 specific target molecules, 10 functions, and 10 pathways, the majority of which were related to a virus-mediated immune response. The pure additive effects between BA and JA were based on enhanced action in virus-mediated immune response. This pure mechanistic analysis may provide a clearer outline of the target profiles of multi-target compounds and combination therapies.

Aging and Parkinson's Disease: Inflammaging, neuroinflammation and biological remodeling as key factors in pathogenesis

In order to better understand the pathogenesis of Parkinson's Disease (PD) it is important to consider possible contributory factors inherent to the aging process, as age-related changes in a number of physiological systems (perhaps incurred within particular environments) appear to influence the onset and progression of neurodegenerative disorders. Accordingly, we posit that a principal mechanism underlying PD is inflammaging, i.e. the chronic inflammatory process characterized by an imbalance of pro- and anti-inflammatory mechanisms which has been recognized as operative in several age-related, and notably neurodegenerative diseases. Recent conceptualization suggests that inflammaging is part of the complex adaptive mechanisms ("re-modeling") that are ongoing through the lifespan, and which function to prevent or mitigate endogenous processes of tissue disruption and degenerative change(s). The absence of an adequate anti-inflammatory response can fuel inflammaging, which propagates on both local (i.e.- from cell to cell) and systemic levels (e.g.- via exosomes and other molecules present in the blood). In general, this scenario is compatible with the hypothesis that inflammaging represents a hormetic or hormetic-like effect, in which low levels of inflammatory stress may prompt induction of anti-inflammatory mediators and mechanisms, while sustained pro-inflammatory stress incurs higher and more durable levels of inflammatory substances, which, in turn prompt a local-to-systemic effect and more diverse inflammatory response(s). Given this perspective, new treatments of PD may be envisioned that strategically are aimed at exerting hormetic effects to sustain anti-inflammatory responses, inclusive perhaps, of modulating the inflammatory influence of the gut microbiota.

The Pten-Parkin Axis: At the Nexus of Cancer and Neurodegeneration

The PARK2 gene encodes an ubiquitin E3 ligase that is involved in mitochondrial homeostasis and linked to Parkinson's disease. In this issue, Gupta et al. (2017) demonstrate that PARK2 expression is frequently reduced in human cancers and that this alteration leads to dysregulated PI3K signaling.

Oxidative DNA damage and reduced expression of DNA repair genes: Role in primary open angle glaucoma (POAG)

BACKGROUND

Controversy exists regarding the role of oxidative DNA damage and DNA repair in primary open angle glaucoma (POAG). We performed a case control study to test the hypothesis that oxidative DNA damage and base excision repair (BER) genes PARP1 and OGG1 are involved in POAG pathogenesis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study included 116 POAG patients and 116 cataract patients as controls. The 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) levels were measured by ELISA. RNA was extracted from blood by Trizol and converted to cDNA. The relative quantification of PARP1 and OGG1 genes normalized to β-actin was calculated by the 2^-ΔCt method. Comparisons between groups were done by student's t-test and correlation between parameters was seen by Pearson correlation coefficient. All p values less than 0.05 were considered significant.

RESULTS

Mean levels of 8-OHdG were (patients v/s controls) 19.53 ± 1.40 vs. 15.0 ± 2.6 ng/ml in plasma and 8.55 ± 1.94 vs. 5.15 ± 1.09 ng/ml in aqueous humor (p < 0.0001). Expression levels of PARP1 (0.44 ± 0.05 vs. 0.88 ± 0.04) and OGG1 (0.46 ± 0.05 vs. 0.8 ± 0.01) were significantly (p < 0.0001) less in the patients than controls. There was a significant negative correlation between the expression levels of PARP1 and OGG1 with plasma and aqueous 8-OHdG. There was a strong positive correlation between plasma and aqueous 8-OHdG levels.

CONCLUSION

These results support our hypothesis that oxidative stress-induced DNA damage is associated with POAG. Increased oxidative DNA damage in POAG may be attributed to decreased expression of DNA repair enzymes of the BER pathway.

Association between Parkinson's disease and risk of colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND

Growing evidence has reported that gut microbiota is involved in pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD) and colorectal cancer (CRC), and the association between PD and CRC does not reach a consensus. In order to explore their correlation, herein we summarize the epidemiological evidence and included relevant studies to perform a meta-analysis.

METHODS

A comprehensive literature search for relevant articles published was performed in Medline, Web of Science and Embase up to June 30, 2016. The pooled risk ratio (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) was used to estimate the effects and calculated using the method of generic inverse variance with the Random-effects model.

RESULTS

Thirteen studies were included and analyzed in this meta-analysis. The pooled result of 11 cohort studies and 2 case-control studies comprising 343,226 PD patients showed that patients with PD had a decreased risk of CRC (RR: 0.79, 95% CI: 0.66-0.93, P = 0.006). Further subgroup analyses performed in Western population revealed that the significant inverse association between PD and risk of CRC was not undermined by many factors, including study design, tumor location, gender and quality of the study.

CONCLUSION

Patients with PD was significantly associated with a decreased risk of CRC in Western population. Future studies are warranted to further clarify this association in Asian population.