Current Progress in Delineating the Roles of Pseudokinase TRIB1 in Controlling Human Diseases

The Drosophila pseudokinase Tribbles translocates to the fat body membrane in response to fasting to modulate insulin sensitivity

The Drosophila pseudokinase Tribbles (Trbl) shares conserved functions with human TRIB3 to bind and inhibit Akt phosphorylation-activation by the Insulin Receptor (InR) to reduce insulin responses; consistent with this, increased levels of human TRIB3 are linked to type 2 diabetes. Here, we show that in fat body cells of well-fed Drosophila larvae, Trbl expression is low and predominantly in the nucleus while fasting or genetic reduction of insulin signaling resulted in increased Trbl expression and Trbl protein translocation to the plasma membrane. An E/G mutation in the Trbl pseudokinase kinase activation loop dominantly interfered with Trbl function leading to increased Akt activity, increased stability of Trbl substrates, including Trbl itself, and aberrant redistribution of Trbl multimers to the membrane. Several strategies designed to increase Akt activity were sufficient to translocate Trbl to the membrane, consistent with the notion that subcellular trafficking of Trbl to the fat body cell membrane acts a rheostat to reduce the strength of Akt-mediated insulin responses, counter to the InR, which has been shown to redistribute away from the membrane to modulate insulin signaling.

Exploration of molecular biomarkers in ankylosing spondylitis transcriptomics

Background

Inflammation of the spine and sacroiliac joints is a hallmark of the chronic, progressive inflammatory illness known as ankylosing spondylitis (AS). The insidious onset and non-specific early symptoms of AS often lead to delays in diagnosis and treatment, which may result in the onset of disability. It is therefore imperative to identify new biomarkers.

Methods

In this study, datasets GSE73754 and GSE25101 were derived from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO). Key genes were identified through differential expression analysis and weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA). A model was then established using LASSO regression, and then it was subjected to the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis for evaluation of the diagnostic accuracy of the genes. Subsequently, immune infiltration analysis was conducted to demonstrate the immune infiltration status of the samples and the correlation between key genes and immune infiltration. Finally, the expression levels of key genes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and their correlation with clinical indicators were validated via RT-qPCR assay.

Results

Through WGCNA and differential expression analysis, 6 genes were identified. Ultimately, five key genes (ACSL1, SLC40A1, GZMM, TRIB1, XBP1) were determined using LASSO regression. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) for these genes was greater than 0.7, indicating favorable diagnostic performance. Immune infiltration analysis showed that AS was associated with infiltration levels of various immune cells. RT-qPCR validated that the expression of ACSL1, SLC40A1, GZMM, and XBP1 was consistent with the predictive model, whereas TRIB1 expression was contrary to the predictive model. Clinical correlation analysis of key genes revealed that ACSL1 was positively linked to hsCRP levels, GZMM was negatively linked to, hsCRP levels, and neutrophil absolute values, SLC40A1 was positively linked to ESR, hsCRP levels and neutrophil absolute values, and XBP1 was negatively linked to ESR, hsCRP levels, and neutrophil absolute values.

Conclusion

This study identified key genes that may reveal a potential association between AS and ferroptosis, demonstrating high diagnostic value. Furthermore, the expression levels of these genes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) are strongly correlated with disease activity. These findings not only suggest potential biomarkers for the diagnosis of AS but also offer important references for exploring new therapeutic targets, highlighting their substantial clinical applicability.

Prognostic Indicators for Precision Treatment of Non-Small Cell Lung Carcinoma

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has established predictive biomarkers that enable decisions on treatment regimens for many patients. However, resistance to therapy is widespread. It is therefore essential to have a panel of molecular biomarkers that may help overcome therapy resistance and prevent adverse effects of treatment. We performed in silico analysis of NSCLC prognostic indicators, separately for adenocarcinomas and squamous carcinomas, by using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and non-TCGA data sources in cBioPortal as well as UALCAN. This review describes lung cancer biology, elaborating on the key genetic alterations and specific genes responsible for resistance to conventional treatments. Importantly, we examined the mechanisms associated with resistance to immune checkpoint inhibitors. Our analysis indicated that a robust prognostic biomarker was lacking for NSCLC, especially for squamous cell carcinomas. In this work, our screening uncovered previously unidentified prognostic gene expression indicators, namely, MYO1E, FAM83 homologs, and DKK1 for adenocarcinoma, and FGA and TRIB1 for squamous cell carcinoma. It was further observed that overexpression of these genes was associated with poor prognosis. Additionally, FAM83 homolog and TRIB1 unexpectedly harbored copy number amplifications. In conclusion, this study elucidated novel prognostic indicators for NSCLC that may serve as targets to overcome therapy resistance toward improved patient outcomes.

Pharmacological targeting of adaptor proteins in chronic inflammation

BACKGROUND

Inflammation, a biological response of the immune system, can be triggered by various factors such as pathogens, damaged cells, and toxic compounds. These factors can lead to chronic inflammatory responses, potentially causing tissue damage or disease. Both infectious and non-infectious agents, as well as cell damage, activate inflammatory cells and trigger common inflammatory signalling pathways, including NF-κB, MAPK, and JAK-STAT pathways. These pathways are activated through adaptor proteins, which possess distinct protein binding domains that connect corresponding interacting molecules to facilitate downstream signalling. Adaptor molecules have gained widespread attention in recent years due to their key role in chronic inflammatory diseases.

METHODS

In this review, we explore potential pharmacological agents that can be used to target adaptor molecules in chronic inflammatory responses. A comprehensive analysis of published studies was performed to obtain information on pharmacological agents.

CONCLUSION

This review highlights the therapeutic strategies involving small molecule inhibitors, antisense oligonucleotide therapy, and traditional medicinal compounds that have been found to inhibit the inflammatory response and pro-inflammatory cytokine production. These strategies primarily block the protein-protein interactions in the inflammatory signaling cascade. Nevertheless, extensive preclinical studies and risk assessment methodologies are necessary to ensure their safety.

Advances in genetic variation in metabolism-related fatty liver disease

Metabolism-related fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is the most common form of chronic liver disease in the world. Its pathogenesis is influenced by both environmental and genetic factors. With the upgrading of gene screening methods and the development of human genome project, whole genome scanning has been widely used to screen genes related to MAFLD, and more and more genetic variation factors related to MAFLD susceptibility have been discovered. There are genetic variants that are highly correlated with the occurrence and development of MAFLD, and there are genetic variants that are protective of MAFLD. These genetic variants affect the development of MAFLD by influencing lipid metabolism and insulin resistance. Therefore, in-depth analysis of different mechanisms of genetic variation and targeting of specific genetic variation genes may provide a new idea for the early prediction and diagnosis of diseases and individualized precision therapy, which may be a promising strategy for the treatment of MAFLD.

The impact of genetic variability on the relationship between caffeine and cardiometabolic outcomes: A systematic review

The relationship between caffeine consumption and cardiometabolic health has been reported, however with heterogenous results. Discrepancies in study results may be due to inter-individual variability between study participants. This systematic review aimed to identify the impact of genetics on the relationship between caffeine consumption and cardiometabolic outcomes. Electronic databases (PubMed and EMBASE) were searched for studies published until July 2021. Selected studies were of both intervention and observational design and included (1) analysis of at least one of the selected cardiometabolic outcome (type 2 diabetes, glucose/insulin levels, cardiovascular disease [CVD], blood pressure [BP] or hypertension, and blood lipid and catecholamine levels), (2) adults aged 18-65 years, and (3) genetic analysis of individuals consuming caffeine. Seventeen studies were included: four randomised controlled trials and an interventional and quasi-experimental study, six population-based prospective cohort studies, three cross-sectional studies, and three case-control studies. CYP1A2 rs762551 and ADORA rs5751876 were associated with glucose response when caffeine was consumed with carbohydrates. CYP1A2 rs762551 moderated the association between coffee intake and hypertension. Moreover, ADORA2A rs5751876 and the ADRA2B I variants moderated the associations between caffeine and BP. Studies that investigated the effects of genetic variations on CVD and caffeine consumption reported equivocal findings (CYP1A2) or warrant replication (COMT, ADORA and TRIB1). Elucidating the extent to which these genes moderate the association between caffeine and cardiometabolic outcomes will enable caffeine consumption advice to be tailored to specific individuals to optimise health.

Ectopic endometriotic stromal cells-derived lactate induces M2 macrophage polarization via Mettl3/Trib1/ERK/STAT3 signalling pathway in endometriosis

Endometriosis is a gynaecological condition characterized by the growth of endometrium-like tissues within and outside of the pelvic cavity. Recent studies have demonstrated that aberrant infiltration of M2 macrophages is mainly responsible for the establishment of endometriotic lesions. A growing body of evidence shows that glycolysis and lactate accumulation have great impact on the regulation of immunomicroenvironment. However, the communication signal between glycolysis and macrophages is poorly defined in endometriosis. Hereby, we investigate the correlation between glycolysis and M2 macrophage infiltration in endometriosis. Next, we confirm that lactate is pivotal factor that drives macrophage M2-polarization to promote endometriotic stromal cells invasion in vitro and in vivo. In addition, we also identify that the activation of Mettl3 and its target gene Trib1 promote M2 macrophage polarization. Moreover, we also demonstrate that Trib1 induce M2 macrophage polarization via the activation of ERK/STAT3 signalling pathway. Finally, by injecting 2-DG into endometriosis mice model, we show that the restrain of glycolysis significantly reduces the progression of endometriosis, which provides evidence for lactate as a potential therapeutic strategy for the prevention and treatment of endometriosis.

The genetic interactions between non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and cardiovascular diseases

The ongoing debate on whether non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is an active contributor or an innocent bystander in the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD) has sparked interests in understanding the common mediators between the two biologically distinct entities. This comprehensive review identifies and curates genetic studies of NAFLD overlapping with CVD, and describes the colinear as well as opposing correlations between genetic associations for the two diseases. Here, CVD described in relation to NAFLD are coronary artery disease, cardiomyopathy and atrial fibrillation. Unique findings of this review included certain NAFLD susceptibility genes that possessed cardioprotective properties. Moreover, the complex interactions of genetic and environmental risk factors shed light on the disparity in genetic influence on NAFLD and its incident CVD. This serves to unravel NAFLD-mediated pathways in order to reduce CVD events, and helps identify targeted treatment strategies, develop polygenic risk scores to improve risk prediction and personalise disease prevention.