Loss of ZNF451 mediates fibroblast activation and promotes lung fibrosis

BACKGROUND

No effective therapies for pulmonary fibrosis (PF) exist because of the unclear molecular pathogenesis and the lack of effective therapeutic targets. Zinc finger protein 451 (ZNF451), a transcriptional regulator, plays crucial roles in the pathogenesis of several diseases. However, its expression pattern and function in PF remain unknown. This study was designed to investigate the role of ZNF451 in the pathogenesis of lung fibrosis.

METHODS

GEO dataset analysis, RT‒PCR, and immunoblot assays were used to examine the expression of ZNF451 in PF; ZNF451 knockout mice and ZNF451-overexpressing lentivirus were used to determine the importance of ZNF451 in PF progression; and migration assays, immunofluorescence staining, and RNA-seq analysis were used for mechanistic studies.

RESULTS

ZNF451 is downregulated and negatively associated with disease severity in PF. Compared with wild-type (WT) mice, ZNF451 knockout mice exhibited much more serious PF changes. However, ZNF451 overexpression protects mice from BLM-induced pulmonary fibrosis. Mechanistically, ZNF451 downregulation triggers fibroblast activation by increasing the expression of PDGFB and subsequently activating PI3K/Akt signaling.

CONCLUSION

These findings uncover a critical role of ZNF451 in PF progression and introduce a novel regulatory mechanism of ZNF451 in fibroblast activation. Our study suggests that ZNF451 serves as a potential therapeutic target for PF and that strategies aimed at increasing ZNF451 expression may be promising therapeutic approaches for PF.

DFT Predirected Molecular Engineering Design of Donor-Acceptor Structured g-C3 N4 for Efficient Photocatalytic Tetracycline Abatement

The photocatalytic environmental decontamination ability of carbon nitride (g-C3 N4 , CN) typically suffers from their inherent structural defects, causing rapid recombination of photogenerated carriers. Conjugating CN with tailored donor-acceptor (D-A) units to counteract this problem through electronic restructuring becomes a feasible strategy, where confirmation by density functional theory (DFT) calculations becomes indispensable. Herein, DFT is employed to predirect the copolymerization modification of CN by benzene derivatives, screening benzaldehyde as the optimal electron-donating candidate for the construction of reoriented intramolecular charge transfer path. Experimental characterization and testing corroborate the formation of a narrowed bandgap as well as high photoinduced carrier separation. Consequently, the optimal BzCN-2 exhibited superior photocatalytic capacity in application for tetracycline hydrochloride degradation, with 3.73 times higher than that of CN. Besides, the BzCN-2-based photocatalytic system is determined to have a toxicity-mitigating effect on TC removal via T.E.S.T and prefers the removal of dissociable TC2- species under partial alkalinity. This work provides insight into DFT guidance for the design of D-A conjugated polymer and its application scenarios in photocatalytic decontamination.

FormulationAI: a novel web-based platform for drug formulation design driven by artificial intelligence

Today, pharmaceutical industry faces great pressure to employ more efficient and systematic ways in drug discovery and development process. However, conventional formulation studies still strongly rely on personal experiences by trial-and-error experiments, resulting in a labor-consuming, tedious and costly pipeline. Thus, it is highly required to develop intelligent and efficient methods for formulation development to keep pace with the progress of the pharmaceutical industry. Here, we developed a comprehensive web-based platform (FormulationAI) for in silico formulation design. First, the most comprehensive datasets of six widely used drug formulation systems in the pharmaceutical industry were collected over 10 years, including cyclodextrin formulation, solid dispersion, phospholipid complex, nanocrystals, self-emulsifying and liposome systems. Then, intelligent prediction and evaluation of 16 important properties from the six systems were investigated and implemented by systematic study and comparison of different AI algorithms and molecular representations. Finally, an efficient prediction platform was established and validated, which enables the formulation design just by inputting basic information of drugs and excipients. FormulationAI is the first freely available comprehensive web-based platform, which provides a powerful solution to assist the formulation design in pharmaceutical industry. It is available at https://formulationai.computpharm.org/.

Nonselective beta-adrenoceptor blocker use and risk of Parkinson's disease: from multiple real-world evidence

BACKGROUND

People with hypertension have a higher risk of developing Parkinson's disease (PD), epidemiological evidence suggests that multiple antihypertensives may affect the occurrence and development of PD with inconsistent results. With multisource data, we sought to determine whether specific antihypertensive classes elevated or reduced the risk for PD.

METHODS

We used a mixed methods approach that combines 4 methodologies. First, we conducted a disproportionality analysis using the reports causing adverse events in the US Food and Drug Administration Adverse Events Reporting System (FAERS) to explore the effect of different classes of antihypertensive medications on the risk of PD; based on the findings from FAERS, a meta-analysis and a UK Biobank cohort analysis were used to further assess the association of drug use with PD; finally, we employed Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to validate the causal relationship between the drug target and the occurrence of PD.

RESULTS

In the disproportionality analysis using the FAERS (N = 187,266), nonselective beta-adrenoceptor blockers (NBBs) were demonstrated to have a significant association with PD (reporting odds ratio (ROR) = 3.13; 95% CI 2.33-4.22). In the meta-analysis of 12 studies with 12,183,809 participants, PD risk was elevated in NBBs (RR, 1.64; 95% CI, 1.19-2.09) when stratified by subtypes of BBs. Among the 105,763 participants included in the cohort analysis using data from the UK Biobank, individuals who used NBBs had a significantly increased risk of PD compared to nonusers (HR, 1.47; 95% CI 1.04-2.06). The MR analysis revealed a significant association between higher expression of the β2 adrenergic receptor (ADRB2) gene, a drug target blocked by NBBs, and a reduced risk of PD (OR, 0.85; 95% CI 0.73-0.99).

CONCLUSIONS

Our comprehensive study indicated that regular NBB use is associated with an increased risk of PD. In light of the detrimental effects of NBBs on PD, some people should choose alternative antihypertensive treatments.

Transcriptome-wide association study-derived genes as potential visceral adipose tissue-specific targets for type 2 diabetes

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS

This study aimed to assess the causal relationship between visceral obesity and type 2 diabetes and subsequently to screen visceral adipose tissue (VAT)-specific targets for type 2 diabetes.

METHODS

We examined the causal relationship between VAT and type 2 diabetes using bidirectional Mendelian randomisation (MR) followed by multivariable MR. We conducted a transcriptome-wide association study (TWAS) leveraging prediction models and a large-scale type 2 diabetes genome-wide association study (74,124 cases and 824,006 controls) to identify candidate genes in VAT and used summary-data-based MR (SMR) and co-localisation analysis to map causal genes. We performed enrichment and single-cell RNA-seq analyses to determine the cell-specific localisation of the TWAS-identified genes. We also conducted knockdown experiments in 3T3-L1 pre-adipocytes.

RESULTS

MR analyses showed a causal relationship between genetically increased VAT mass and type 2 diabetes (inverse-variance weighted OR 2.48 [95% CI 2.21, 2.79]). Ten VAT-specific candidate genes were associated with type 2 diabetes after Bonferroni correction, including five causal genes supported by SMR and co-localisation: PABPC4 (1p34.3); CCNE2 (8q22.1); HAUS6 (9p22.1); CWF19L1 (10q24.31); and CCDC92 (12q24.31). Combined with enrichment analyses, clarifying cell-type specificity with single-cell RNA-seq data indicated that most TWAS-identified candidate genes appear more likely to be associated with adipocytes in VAT. Knockdown experiments suggested that Pabpc4 likely contributes to regulating differentiation and energy metabolism in 3T3-L1 adipocytes.

CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION

Our findings provide new insights into the genetic basis and biological processes of the association between VAT accumulation and type 2 diabetes and warrant investigation through further functional studies to validate these VAT-specific candidate genes.

Epilepsy and long-term risk of arrhythmias

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Previous evidence has mainly supported transient changes in cardiac function during interictal or peri-ictal phases in people with epilepsy, but the long-term risk of cardiac arrhythmias is poorly described. This study aimed to assess the long-term association of epilepsy with cardiac arrhythmias, considering the potential role of genetic predisposition and antiseizure medications (ASMs) in any associations observed.

METHODS

This population-based study evaluated UK Biobank data for individuals recruited between 2006 and 2010. Cox proportional hazards models and competing risk models were used to examine the association of epilepsy history with the long-term incidence risk of cardiac arrhythmias and arrhythmias subtypes. Polygenic risk scores (PRS) were calculated to investigate the effect of genetic susceptibility. The role of ASMs was also evaluated by integrating observational and drug target Mendelian randomization (MR) evidence.

RESULTS

The study included 329 432 individuals, including 2699 people with epilepsy. Compared with those without epilepsy, people with epilepsy experienced an increased risk of all cardiac arrhythmias [hazard ratio (HR) 1.36, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.21-1.53], atrial fibrillation (HR 1.26, 95% CI 1.08-1.46), and other cardiac arrhythmias (HR 1.56, 95% CI 1.34-1.81). The associations were not modified by genetic predisposition as indicated by PRS. Competing and sensitivity analyses corroborated these results. Individuals with epilepsy using ASMs, especially carbamazepine and valproic acid, were at a higher risk for cardiac arrhythmias. This observation was further supported by drug target MR results (PSMR < .05 and PHEIDI > .05).

CONCLUSION

This study revealed the higher risk of cardiac arrhythmias persists long term in people with epilepsy, especially among those using carbamazepine and valproic acid. These findings highlight the need for regular heart rhythm monitoring and management in people with epilepsy in order to reduce the risk of further cardiovascular complications.

Endothelial RIPK1 protects artery bypass graft against arteriosclerosis by regulating SMC growth

RIPK1 is crucial in the inflammatory response. The process of vascular graft remodeling is also involved in endothelial inflammation, which can influence the behavior of smooth muscle cells. However, the role of endothelial RIPK1 in arterial bypass grafts remains unknown. Here, we established an arterial isograft mouse model in wild-type and endothelial RIPK1 conditional knockout mice. Progressive vascular remodeling and neointima formation occurred in the graft artery, showing SMC accumulation together with endothelial inflammatory adhesion molecule and cytokine expression. Endothelial RIPK1 knockout exacerbated graft stenosis by increasing secretion of N-Shh. Mechanistically, RIPK1 directly phosphorylated EEF1AKMT3 at Ser26, inhibiting its methyltransferase activity and global protein synthesis, which further attenuated N-Shh translation and secretion. Consistently, treatment with the Hedgehog pathway inhibitor GDC0449 markedly alleviated RIPK1 knockout-induced graft stenosis. Our results demonstrated that endothelial RIPK1 played a protective role in arterial bypass graft vascular remodeling, highlighting that targeting Hedgehog pathway may be an attractive strategy for graft failure in the future.

Light at night and cause-specific mortality risk in Mainland China: a nationwide observational study

BACKGROUND

While epidemiological studies have found correlations between light at night (LAN) and health effects, none has so far investigated the impacts of LAN on population mortality yet. We aimed to estimate the relative risk for mortality from exposure to LAN in Mainland China.

METHODS

This time-stratified case-crossover nationwide study used NPP-VIIRS to obtain daily LAN data of Mainland China between 2015 and 2019. The daily mortality data were obtained from the Disease Surveillance Point System in China. Conditional Poisson regression models were applied to examine the relative risk (RR) for mortality along daily LAN in each county, then meta-analysis was performed to combine the county-specific estimates at the national or regional level.

RESULTS

A total of 579 counties with an average daily LAN of 4.39 (range: 1.02-35.46) were included in the main analysis. The overall RRs per 100 nW/cm²/sr increases in daily LAN were 1.08 (95%CI: 1.05-1.11) for all-cause mortality and 1.08 (95%CI: 1.05-1.11) for natural-cause mortality. A positive association between LAN and all natural cause-specific mortality was observed, of which the strongest effect was observed on mortality caused by neuron system disease (RR = 1.32, 95%CI: 1.14-1.52). The results were robust in both younger and old, as well as in males and females. The more pronounced effect of LAN was observed in median LAN-level regions. Combined with an exposure-response curve, our study suggests a non-linear association between LAN and mortality in China.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study shows LAN is associated with mortality in China, particularly for neuron system disease-related mortality. These findings have important implications for public health policy establishment to minimize the health consequences of light pollution.