Enhanced SOCS3 in osteoarthiritis may limit both proliferation and inflammation

Effect of IL-6 -174G/C and -572G/C variants on susceptibility to osteoarthritis in Turkish population

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a complex disorder characterized by degenerative articular cartilage in which inflammatory mechanisms play a major role in the pathogenesis. Interleukin-6 (IL6), a multifunctional cytokine, can trigger osteoclast differentiation and bone resorption. Our purpose in this study was to evaluate the association of IL-6 -174 G/C (rs1800795) and -572 G/C (rs1800796) variants with the susceptibility to OA. One hundred fifty OA patients and 150 healthy individuals were enrolled in the study. Polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) was used for genotyping the IL-6 gene variants. The results of analyses were evaluated for statistical significance. The pain intensity was assessed using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). There was a statistically significant difference in the genotype and allele frequencies of the IL-6 -174 G/C variant between patients with OA and control groups (p = 0.001, p = 0.002, respectively). IL-6 -174 G/C GG genotype and G allele were more prevalent in patients with OA. We found that the IL-6 -572 G/C variant was not different between patients and controls in either genotype distribution and allele frequency. IL-6 174 G/C and -572 G/C loci GG-GG combined genotype was significantly higher in OA patients (p = 0.00). Our study suggests that there was a strong association between the IL-6 -174 G/C variant and OA in the Turkish population. Further studies on populations of different ethnic background are necessary to prove the association of IL-6 variants with OA.

Comprehensive Network Pharmacological Analysis and In Vitro Verification Reveal the Potential Active Ingredients and Potential Mechanisms of Frankincense and Myrrh in Knee Osteoarthritis

Background: Frankincense and myrrh (FM) are often used together to treat knee osteoarthritis (KOA). However, the underlying mechanism of its treatment of KOA remains unclear. Objective: To analyze the active components of FM through network pharmacology and in vitro experiments, and to explore its potential therapeutic mechanism in the treatment of KOA. Materials and methods: The protein mapping relationship between potential drug targets and disease targets was screened and constructed through the database. Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis were performed using R software. Discovery Studio software was used to perform molecular docking. The active components of FM were identified using liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS). In addition, experimental verification was carried out by Cell Counting Kit-8 detection, Western blot, and immunofluorescence analysis. Results: Combining the results of network pharmacology and LC-MS, 31 active compounds and 94 target genes of FM were identified. The common genes of FM and KOA suggest that FM exerts anti-KOA effect by regulating genes such as Transcription factor Jun (JUN), Interleukin-6 (IL-6), Interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 8 (CXCL8), Transcription factor p65 (RELA), and Mitogen-activated protein kinase 1 (MAPK1). GO enrichment analysis showed that FM exerted therapeutic effects on KOA by regulating biological processes such as cell proliferation, cell migration, and apoptosis. In addition, KEGG enrichment analysis involved signaling pathways such as fluid shear stress, the TNF, PI3K-Akt, NF-κB, and MAPK. Consistently, in vivo experiments showed that FM inhibited IL-1β-induced MAPK activation and attenuated inflammation in mouse chondrocytes. Furthermore, FM inhibited IL-1β-induced phosphorylation of p65 and the process of p65 translocation from the cytoplasm into the nucleus. Conclusions: Our results provide conclusive evidence and deepen the current understanding of FM in the treatment of KOA and further support its clinical application.

Intestinal changes associated with nitrite exposure in Bufo gargarizans larvae: Histological damage, immune response, and microbiota dysbiosis

Nitrite is a ubiquitous toxic compound in aquatic ecosystems and has negative effects on aquatic organisms. The intestine and the trillions of microbes that inhabit it, play an integral role in maintaining digestive and immune functions. However, the effects of nitrite on intestinal health and microflora have been poorly investigated. Therefore, the present study evaluated the response of intestinal histology, immunity, digestive enzyme activities and microbiota to nitrite exposure in Bufo gargarizans tadpoles. The results showed that nitrite caused damage to the intestine and impaired digestive performance. Significant changes in the transcriptional profiles of genes involved in oxidative stress (sod, gpx and hsp), inflammation, and immunity (socs3, il-27, il-1β and il-17d) were observed in the NO₂-N treatment groups. In addition, exposure to nitrite induced alterations of intestinal microbial diversity, structure and composition, suggesting that nitrite may lead to intestinal microbiota dysbiosis. It is noteworthy that probiotics (e.g., Bacteroidetes and Fusobacteria) were decreased after exposure to nitrite, whereas potentially opportunistic pathogens such as Proteobacteria and Enterobacteriaceae were elevated. Functional prediction and correlation analysis suggested that the above changes may interfere with metabolic function and trigger various diseases. Taken together, we concluded that nitrite exposure induced intestinal microbial dysbiosis, which may lead to immune dysfunction and metabolic disorder, and ultimately to histological damages in B. gargarizans. Further, this study will provide a scientific basis for further understanding the risk of nitrite pollution on the intestinal health of amphibians.

Plantamajoside Ameliorates Inflammatory Response of Chondrocytes via Regulating NF-κB/NLRP3 Inflammasome Pathway

The damage of articular cartilage in osteoarthritis involves the oxidative stress and inflammation. The aim of the present study was to explore the role of plantamajoside (PM) in chondrocytes and elucidate the underlying mechanism. The cell viability following treatment with PM or lipopolysac-charide (LPS) was assessed by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8). Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) was supplied to determine the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Moreover, the oxidative stress-related markers were evaluated via assay kits. TUNEL assay was employed to stain the apoptotic cells. The components of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) pathway and NLRP3 inflammasome were estimated by western blot analysis. LPS-insulted cell viability of ATDC5 was restored by PM. PM alleviated the inflammatory response and oxidative stress of ATDC5 cells induced by LPS. Furthermore, it was found that the apoptotic cells were reduced following PM treatment. The protein levels of NF-κB, IκB kinase β (IKKβ) and NLRP3 inflammasome were decreased by PM. These results suggested that PM protected the ATDC5 cells from LPS stimulation, alleviated the inflammatory response may through regulating the NF-κB and NLRP3 inflammasome.

A roadmap to target interleukin-6 in osteoarthritis

Joint inflammation is present in the majority of OA patients and pro-inflammatory mediators, such as IL-6, are actively involved in disease progression. Increased levels of IL-6 in serum or synovial fluid from OA patients correlate with disease incidence and severity, with IL-6 playing a pivotal role in the development of cartilage pathology, e.g. via induction of matrix-degrading enzymes. However, IL-6 also increases expression of anti-catabolic factors, suggesting a protective role. Until now, this dual role of IL-6 is incompletely understood and may be caused by differential effects of IL-6 classic vs trans-signalling. Here, we review current evidence regarding the role of IL-6 classic- and trans-signalling in local joint pathology of cartilage, synovium and bone. Furthermore, we discuss targeting of IL-6 in experimental OA models and provide future perspective for OA treatment by evaluating currently available IL-6 targeting strategies.

RNA Sequencing Reveals LINC00167 as a Potential Diagnosis Biomarker for Primary Osteoarthritis: A Multi-Stage Study

Objectives

Given the roles played by lncRNA in human diseases and the high incidence of OA, this study investigated the pivotal pathways involved in the disease and identified potential biomarkers for OA diagnosis.

Methods

We first performed an exploration of RNA-sequencing in peripheral blood leukocytes from six subjects (3 OA and 3 healthy controls). Promising candidate lncRNAs were evaluated in first stage validation using a GEO dataset (GSE114007) of 38 subjects (20 OA and 18 healthy controls), followed by a second stage validation using quantitative PCR analysis with 101 subjects (67 OA and 34 controls). The third stage investigated the potential value of validated lncRNA in the early diagnosis of OA in peripheral blood leukocytes from a total of 120 participants (60 cases and 60 controls).

Results

The dataset identified a total of 1,380 up-regulated and 719 down-regulated mRNAs and 5,743 up-regulated and 7,384 down-regulated lncRNAs. The up-regulated DEGs were mainly enriched in the extracellular matrix, while the down-regulated DEGs were mainly enriched in the IL-17 and wnt signaling pathways. 18 overlapping candidate lncRNAs survived after first-stage validation. 3 hub lncRNAs were selected for the second validation stage and qualified in an external sample, and lncRNA LINC00167 was further confirmed with a similar result (down-expressed in both stages). Receiver operating characteristic analysis showed that LINC00167 can distinguish OA cases from healthy controls with a high area under the curve of 0.879 (95%CI: 0.819, 0.938; P < 0.001), with a sensitivity of 80.7% and specificity of 83.5%.

Conclusion

The expression profile of OA was identified and critical pathways were elucidated by an integrated approach to RNA-seq from easily accessible blood. LINC00167 may serve as a potential early diagnosis marker for OA in clinical practice. The detailed mechanism of action of this lncRNA requires further elucidation in future studies.

Response Patterns of Biomarkers as Tools to Identify Toxic Effects of Cadmium and Lead on Bufo gargarizans Embryo

Molecular biomarkers play an increasing crucial role in evaluating and predicting toxicity of metals. Expressions patterns of genes related to oxidative stress, apoptosis, immune and inflammation response in the Bufo gargarizans embryo exhibited a development dependent manner. The genes related to oxidative stress (HSP, GPx and SOD) are the first response in the development of embryo, followed by the apoptosis (Bax, BCLAF1 and TRAIL) and inflammation and immune response (SOCS3, IL-27 and IL-17D), respectively. Then, we have verified the HSP, Bax and SOCS3 IL-27 (expressed highest in their respective processes) exhibited the most significant changes in Cd-Pb mixed group compared with control. In addition, we found exposure of Cd-Pb mixed metals causes greater adverse effects than Cd, Pb alone on development and morphology of embryo. Overall, our results provide a useful tool to use the sensitive molecular biomarkers as indicators of developmental toxicity in amphibian embryo.

The CoV-2 outbreak: how hematologists could help to fight Covid-19

COVID-19 is a medical emergency, with 20 % of patients presenting with severe clinical manifestations. From the pathogenetic point of view, COVID-19 mimics two other well-known diseases characterized by cytokine storm and hyper-activation of the immune response, with consequent organ damage: acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) and macrophage activation syndrome (MAS). Hematologists are confident with these situations requiring a prompt therapeutic approach for switching off the uncontrolled cytokine release; here, we discuss pros and cons of drugs that are already employed in hematology in the light of their possible application in COVID-19. The most promising drugs might be: Ruxolitinib, a JAK1/2 inhibitor, with a rapid and powerful anti-cytokine effect, tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), with their good anti-inflammatory properties, and perhaps the anti-Cd26 antibody Begelomab. We also present immunological data from gene expression experiments where TKIs resulted effective anti-inflammatory and pro-immune drugs. A possible combined treatment algorithm for COVID-19 is here proposed.

The Role of Inflammation in the Pathogenesis of Osteoarthritis

A joint is the point of connection between two bones in our body. Inflammation of the joint leads to several diseases, including osteoarthritis, which is the concern of this review. Osteoarthritis is a common chronic debilitating joint disease mainly affecting the elderly. Several studies showed that inflammation triggered by factors like biomechanical stress is involved in the development of osteoarthritis. This stimulates the release of early-stage inflammatory cytokines like interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), which in turn induces the activation of signaling pathways, such as nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB), phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/AKT), and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK). These events, in turn, generate more inflammatory molecules. Subsequently, collagenase like matrix metalloproteinases-13 (MMP-13) will degrade the extracellular matrix. As a result, anatomical and physiological functions of the joint are altered. This review is aimed at summarizing the previous studies highlighting the involvement of inflammation in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis.

Upregulation of suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 ameliorates spinal degenerative disease in adolescents by mediating leptin and tumor necrosis factor-α levels

Spinal degenerative changes may occur following the rapid growth observed in adolescents, causing a reduced quality of life. The suppressor of cytokine signaling (SOCS) is involved in various degenerative diseases. The current study recruited adolescents with spinal degenerative disease (SDD) to identify the effect of SOCS-3 on leptin and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) levels in this disorder. From January 2010 to January 2016, 120 adolescents (aged 14 to 25) were enrolled in the current study, with 68 diagnosed with SDD and the remaining 52 treated as controls. Nucleus pulposus cells (NPCs) were extracted and cultured in vitro. TNF-α levels in NPCs were determined using flow cytometry. Degenerative NPCs were then transfected with pCR3.1-SOCS-3 and ELISA was performed to determined TNF-α and leptin levels. RT-qPCR was performed to measure the mRNA level of SOCS-3 and leptin in NPCs and western blotting was utilized to detect the protein level of leptin and the extent of leptin receptor phosphorylation. The results revealed that TNF-α levels in degenerative NPCs were higher than those in normal NPCs. The overexpression of SOCS-3 reduced levels of TNF-α and leptin in degenerative NPCs. In addition, the upregulation of leptin increased SOCS-3 levels in a concentration-dependent manner. Furthermore, the expression of the leptin receptor and phosphorylated leptin receptor gradually decreased with increasing leptin concentrations and the level of phosphorylated leptin receptor negatively correlated with SOCS-3 expression. The inductive effect of leptin on the level of SOCS-3 and the inhibitory effect of SOCS-3 on the activity of leptin were identified. The current study demonstrated that SOCS-3 reduces leptin and TNF-α levels in degenerative NPCs from adolescents, indicating its potential role in the development of novel SDD therapies.

SOCS molecules: the growing players in macrophage polarization and function

The concept of macrophage polarization is defined in terms of macrophage phenotypic heterogeneity and functional diversity. Cytokines signals are thought to be required for the polarization of macrophage populations toward different phenotypes at different stages in development, homeostasis and disease. The suppressors of cytokine signaling family of proteins contribute to the magnitude and duration of cytokines signaling, which ultimately control the subtle adjustment of the balance between divergent macrophage phenotypes. This review highlights the specific roles and mechanisms of various cytokines family and their negative regulators link to the macrophage polarization programs. Eventually, breakthrough in the identification of these molecules will provide the novel therapeutic approaches for a host of diseases by targeting macrophage phenotypic shift.