An antihypertensive drug-AT1 inhibitor attenuated BRCA development promoted by chronic psychological stress via Ang II/PARP1/FN1 pathway

Chronic psychological stress contributes to the occurrence of cancer and activates the renin-angiotensin system (RAS). However, the mechanisms by which RAS promotes the progression of breast cancer (BRCA) under chronic psychological stress are remain unknown. In this study, we observed elevated levels of Angiotensin II (Ang II) in both serum and BRCA tissue under chronic stress, leading to accelerated BRCA growth in a mouse model. An antihypertensive drug, candesartan (an AT1 inhibitor), effectively attenuated Ang II-induced cell proliferation and metastasis. Utilizing mass spectrometry and weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA), we identified fibronectin 1 (FN1) as the hub protein involved in chronic stress-Ang II/AT1 axis. Focal adhesion pathway was identified as a downstream signaling pathway activated during the progression of chronic stress. Depletion of FN1 significantly attenuated Ang II-induced proliferation and metastasis of BRCA cells. Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP1) was found to bind to the DNA promoter of FN1, leading to the transcription of FN1. Ang II upregulated PARP1 expression, resulting in increased FN1 levels. Recombinant FN1 partially restored the progress of BRCA malignancy induced by the Ang II/PARP1 pathway. In vivo, candesartan reversed the progressive effect of chronic psychological stress on BRCA. In clinical samples, Ang II levels in both serum and tumor tissues are higher in stressed patients compared to control patients. Serum Ang II levels were positively correlated with chronic stress indicators. In conclusion, our study demonstrated that chronic psychological stress accelerates the malignancy of BRCA, and the AT1 inhibitor candesartan counteracts these effects by suppressing the Ang II-AT1 axis and the downstream PARP1/FN1/focal adhesion pathway.

Traffic-related air pollution, chronic stress, and changes in exhaled nitric oxide and lung function among a panel of children with asthma living in an underresourced community

We examined associations between short-term exposure to traffic-related air pollutants (TRAP) and airway inflammation and lung function in children with asthma, and whether these associations are modified by chronic psychological stress. Residents of underresourced port-adjacent communities in New Jersey were concerned about the cumulative impacts of exposure to TRAP, particularly diesel-engine truck emissions, and stress on exacerbation of asthma among children. Children with asthma aged 9-14 (n = 35) were recruited from non-smoking households. We measured each participant's (1) continuous personal exposure to black carbon (BC, a surrogate of TRAP) at 1-min intervals, (2) 24-h integrated personal exposure to nitrogen dioxide (NO2), (3) daily fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO), and (4) lung function for up to 30 consecutive days. Personal BC was recorded by micro-aethalometers. We measured daily FeNO using the NIOX MINO, forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), and forced vital capacity (FVC) using Easy One Frontline spirometers. Chronic stress was measured with the UCLA Life Stress Interview for Children. The association was examined using linear mixed-effect models. In the fully adjusted model, an interquartile range (IQR) increase in BC at lag 0-6 h before the FeNO measurement was associated with 8 % (95 % CI: 3 % - 12 %) increase in FeNO, whereas an IQR increase in BC at lag 7-12 h and lag 0-24 h were associated with 6 % (95 % CI: 2 % - 11 %) and 7 % (2 % - 12 %) FeNO increases, respectively. There were no significant lung function changes per IQR increase in BC. No interactions were observed between chronic stress and BC on FeNO. Chronic stress was negatively associated with individual average FeNO levels. Our findings suggest that higher levels of BC exposure within the prior 24 h increased airway inflammation levels in children with asthma, with the strongest effect observed within the first 6 h.

RNA sequencing and metabolic analysis of imiquimod-induced psoriasis-like mice with chronic restrain stress

AIM

Psoriasis is one of the most common dermatological disorders, characterized by increased epidermal hyperplasia and immune cell infiltration. Psychological stress has been reported to contribute to the severity, aggravation, and relapse of psoriasis. However, the exact mechanism involved in psychological stress's impact on psoriasis is still unclear. We aim to investigate the role of psychological stress in psoriasis from a transcriptomic and metabolomic perspective.

MAIN METHOD

We developed a chronic restrain stress (CRS)-imiquimod (IMQ)-induced psoriasis-like mouse model and performed a comprehensive comparative transcriptomic and metabolic analysis with control mice, CRS-treated mice, and IMQ-treated mice to investigate how psychological stress affects psoriasis.

KEY FINDING

We found that CRS-IMQ-induced psoriasis-like mice showed significant exacerbation of psoriasis-like skin inflammation compared with mice treated with IMQ only. Mice of the CRS + IMQ group showed increased expression of keratinocyte proliferation and differentiation genes, differential regulation of cytokines, and promotion of linoleic acid metabolism. Correlation analysis of differentially expressed genes in the CRS-IMQ-induced psoriasis-like mice and human psoriasis datasets compared with respective controls revealed 96 overlapping genes of which 30 genes showed consistent induced or repressed expression in all human and mouse datasets.

SIGNIFICANCE

Our study provides new insights into the effects of psychological stress on psoriasis pathogenesis and the mechanisms involved, which provides clues for development of therapeutics or biomarkers.

Chronic psychological stress promotes breast cancer pre-metastatic niche formation by mobilizing splenic MDSCs via TAM/CXCL1 signaling

BACKGROUND

Emerging studies have identified chronic psychological stress as an independent risk factor influencing breast cancer growth and metastasis. However, the effects of chronic psychological stress on pre-metastatic niche (PMN) formation and the underlying immunological mechanisms remain largely unknown.

METHODS

The effects and molecular mechanisms of chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) on modulating tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) and PMN formation were clarified by multiplex immunofluorescence technique, cytokine array, chromatin immunoprecipitation, the dual-luciferase reporter assay, and breast cancer xenografts. Transwell and CD8⁺ T cytotoxicity detection were used to analyze the mobilization and function of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs). mCherry-labeled tracing strategy and bone marrow transplantation were applied to explore the crucial role of splenic CXCR2^+/+ MDSCs facilitating PMN formation under CUMS.

RESULTS

CUMS significantly promoted breast cancer growth and metastasis, accompanied by TAMs accumulation in the microenvironment. CXCL1 was identified as a crucial chemokine in TAMs facilitating PMN formation in a glucocorticoid receptor (GR)-dependent manner. Interestingly, the spleen index was significantly reduced under CUMS, and splenic MDSCs were validated as a key factor mediating CXCL1-induced PMN formation. The molecular mechanism study revealed that TAM-derived CXCL1 enhanced the proliferation, migration, and anti-CD8⁺ T cell functions of MDSCs via CXCR2. Moreover, CXCR2 knockout and CXCR2^-/-MDSCs transplantation significantly impaired CUMS-mediated MDSC elevation, PMN formation, and breast cancer metastasis.

CONCLUSION

Our findings shed new light on the association between chronic psychological stress and splenic MDSC mobilization, and suggest that stress-related glucocorticoid elevation can enhance TAM/CXCL1 signaling and subsequently recruit splenic MDSCs to promote PMN formation via CXCR2.

Chronic Psychological Stress Disrupts Iron Metabolism and Enhances Hepatic Mitochondrial Function in Mice

To explore the changes in iron metabolism and mitochondrial function exposed to chronic psychological stress, seventy-five male mice aged 5 ~ 6 weeks were randomly sorted into 2 groups: control group and chronic psychological stress group. Mice were conducted by communication box to induce psychological stress for 21 consecutive days. The results showed that chronic psychological stress led to a significant reduction in average daily gain (P < 0.01) and the final weight (P < 0.05). Chronic psychological stress greatly increased plasma and duodenal iron level (P < 0.05), whereas markedly decreased hepatic iron content in mice (P < 0.05). Increasing expression of duodenal DCYTB and FPN (P < 0.05) was observed in mice exposed to chronic psychological stress. Moreover, chronic psychological stress greatly enhanced hepatic TFR1, FTL, and FPN protein expression (P < 0.05) in mice. Additionally, chronic psychological stress enhanced the levels of hepatic NADH, NAD + , ATP, mtDNA content, mtDNA-encoded genes, and the activity of mitochondrial complex I and II (P < 0.05). Taken together, chronic psychological stress impairs growth, disrupts iron metabolism, and enhances hepatic mitochondrial function in mice. These results will provide new insights for understanding the mechanisms of iron metabolism and mitochondrial function during chronic psychological stress.

ZiBuPiYin recipe ameliorates diabetes-associated cognitive decline by improving neuronal mitochondrial function in chronic psychologically stressed zucker diabetic fatty rats

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Zibu Piyin Recipe (ZBPYR) is a traditional Chinese medicine compound composed of 12 kinds of Chinese herbal medicines including red ginseng and yam. Long-term basic and clinical applications have proved that ZBPYR can prevent and treat cognitive dysfunction. Previous studies showed that chronic psychological stress can increase the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and lead to cognitive decline. Mitochondrial dysfunction plays a key role in chronic psychological stress-induced diabetes mellitus. While the mechanism of mitochondrial dysfunction and insulin resistance in diabetes-associated cognitive decline (DACD) is unclear.

AIM OF THE STUDY

Our previous research found that a ZiBuPiYin recipe (ZBPYR) has significant pharmacological effects against DACD. The present study investigated changes in mitochondrial dysfunction in the brain and the mechanism of insulin resistance and mitochondrial damage to explore the relationship between neuronal mitochondrial dysfunction and insulin resistance in chronic psychologically stressed DACD rats.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rats with spontaneous T2DM and rats with diabetic cognitive impairment that was induced by chronic psychological stress were used in in vivo experiments. PC12 cells that were damaged by rotenone were used for the in vitro experiment.

RESULTS

The findings indicated that the number of mitochondria decreased, morphology and membrane potential were damaged, and reactive oxygen species increased in the cortex and hippocampus in psychologically stressed DACD rats. Protein kinase Cβ2 (PKCβ2) activation and insulin resistance were markedly induced by chronic psychological stress, together with decreases in peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator 1α (PGC-1α) and mitochondrial fusion protein 2 (Mfn2). Furthermore, ZBPYR exerted protective effects both in in vivo and in vitro.

CONCLUSION

Mitochondrial damage and insulin resistance were observed in the brain in chronic psychologically stressed DACD rats. The ZBPYR significantly improved brain mitochondrial damage and insulin resistance in chronic psychologically stressed DACD rats. These results provide novel insights for the development of ZBPYR as a traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of chronic psychological stress and DACD.

Structural Alteration of Gut Microbiota During the Amelioration of Chronic Psychological Stress-Aggravated Diabetes-Associated Cognitive Decline by a Traditional Chinese Herbal Formula, ZiBu PiYin Recipe

BACKGROUND

Chronic psychological stress (PS) hinders the treatment of diabetes-associated cognitive decline (DACD). However, the impact of chronic PS on the risk of developing DACD remains unclear. There is growing evidence that gut flora interventions are promising targets for treating stress-related diseases.

OBJECTIVE

We examined whether chronic PS triggers or exacerbates the onset of DACD in rats and aimed to elucidate whether ZiBuPiYin recipe (ZBPYR) prevents and treats chronic PS-aggravated DACD by dynamically maintaining the components of the gut microbiota.

METHODS

We performed chronic PS (restraint, rotation, and congestion) on ZDF rats to establish a model. Cognitive function was evaluated by behavioral experiments, and activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis was detected by ELISA. Weekly feces from rats were collected for 16 S RNA sequencing.

RESULTS

We found that chronic PS promoted cognitive abnormalities and exacerbated DACD phenotypes. Additionally, chronic PS altered intestinal flora diversity, dynamically elevating the abundance of Alistipes and Coprococcus; enriching Module 1 (Dorea, Blautia, Ruminococcus) and Module 48 (Blautia); and inhibiting Module 20 (Lactobacillus, SMB53), and Module 42 (Akkermansia). ZBPYR significantly alleviated hyperglycemia and cognitive impairment in chronic PS-aggravated DACD rats and dynamically reduced the abundance of Alistipes and Coprococcus; significantly enriched Module 3 (Ruminococcus) and Module 45 (Lactobacillus, Coprococcus, SMB53); and suppressed Module 2 (Lactobacillus), Module 16 (Turicibacter, Trichococcus, Lactobacillus, 02d06, Clostridium), Module 23 (Bifidobacterium), and Module 43 (Clostridium).

CONCLUSION

ZBPYR might prevent and treat chronic PS-aggravated DACD by dynamically regulating Lactobacillus, Alistipes, and Coprococcus.

Naringenin in Si-Ni-San formula inhibits chronic psychological stress-induced breast cancer growth and metastasis by modulating estrogen metabolism through FXR/EST pathway

INTRODUCTION

Chronic psychological stress is a well-established risk factor for breast cancer development. Si-Ni-San (SNS) is a classical traditional Chinese medicine formula prescribed to psychological disorder patients. However, its action effects, molecular mechanisms, and bioactive phytochemicals against breast cancer are not yet clear.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to explore the modulatory mechanism and bioactive compound of SNS in regulating estrogen metabolism during breast cancer development induced by chronic psychological stress.

METHODS

Mouse breast cancer xenograft was used to determine the effect of SNS on breast cancer growth and metastasis. Metabolomics analysis was conducted to discover the impact of SNS on metabolic profile changes in vivo. Multiple molecular biology experiments and breast cancer xenografts were applied to verify the anti-metastatic potentials of the screened bioactive compound.

RESULTS

SNS remarkably inhibited chronic psychological stress-induced breast cancer growth and metastasis in the mouse breast cancer xenograft. Meanwhile, chronic psychological stress increased the level of cholic acid, accompanied by the elevation of estradiol. Mechanistic investigation demonstrated that cholic acid activated farnesoid X receptor (FXR) expression, which inhibited hepatocyte nuclear factor 4α (HNF4α)-mediated estrogen sulfotransferase (EST) transcription in hepatocytes, and finally resulting in estradiol elevation. Notably, SNS inhibited breast cancer growth by suppressing estradiol level via modulating FXR/EST signaling. Furthermore, luciferase-reporting gene assay screened naringenin as the most bioactive compound in SNS for triggering EST activity in hepatocytes. Interestingly, pharmacokinetic study revealed that naringenin had the highest absorption in the liver tissue. Following in vivo and in vitro studies demonstrated that naringenin inhibited stress-induced breast cancer growth and metastasis by promoting estradiol metabolism via FXR/EST signaling.

CONCLUSION

This study not only highlights FXR/EST signaling as a crucial target in mediating stress-induced breast cancer development, but also provides naringenin as a potential candidate for breast cancer endocrine therapy via promoting estradiol metabolism.

[Acupuncture improved depressive behavior by regulating expression of hippocampal apoptosis-related factors in psychological stress-induced depression rats]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effect of acupuncture on behavior changes and the expression of reactive oxygen species (ROS), cytochrome C, cysteine-containing aspartate-specific proteases-3 (caspase-3), apoptosis inducing factor (AIF) in the hippocampus of rats exposed to chronic restraint stress (CRS), so as to provide experimental evidence for the prevention and treatment of depression.

METHODS

Thirty two male SD rats were equally randomized into control, model, acupuncture and medication (Fluoxetine) groups according to the random number table. The depression model was established by chronic psychological stress stimulation (fasting, water deprivation, chronic restraint combined with solitary raising for 28 days). Manual acupuncture stimulation (2 circles/s) was applied to "Baihui" (GV20), "Yintang" (GV29) and bilateral "Sanyinjiao" (SP6) for 2 min, followed by retaining the needles for 20 min. Rats in the medication group were treated by gavage of Fluoxetine (0.18 mg/mL, 1 mL/100 g body weight). The treatment was conducted once daily for 28 days. The depression-like behavior was evaluated by using open-field test, sucrose preference test, and body weight. The content of ROS of the right hippocampus tissue was detected by using dichloro-dihydro-fluorescein diacetate (DCFH-DA) assay, and the expression levels of cytochrome C, caspase-3 and AIF proteins of hippocampus were determined by using Western blot.

RESULTS

After 28 days' stress procedure, the depression rats in the model group showed a significant decrease in the numbers of crossing and rearing of open-field test, sucrose preference index and the body weight compared to the control group (P<0.01). The content of ROS and expression levels of cytochrome C, caspase-3 and AIF in the hippocampus of the model group were significantly increased relevant to the control group (all P<0.01). After the intervention and compared with the model group, the decreased levels of the numbers of crossing and rearing, body weight and sucrose preference index, and the up-regulated levels of content of ROS and expression of cytochrome C, caspase-3 and AIF proteins were all reversed in both acupuncture and medication groups (P<0.01，P<0.05), displaying an anti-depressant effect. The effect of acupuncture was significantly superior to that of medication in up-regulating the numbers of crossing and rearing (P<0.01, P<0.05), and in down-regulating the expression of caspase-3 (P<0.01). No significant differences were found between the medication and acupuncture groups in increasing the body weight and sucrose preference index, and in down-regulating the expression of cytochrome C and AIF proteins (P>0.05).

CONCLUSION

Acupuncture intervention can significantly reduce ROS content and expression level of cytochrome C, caspase-3 and AIF proteins in the hippocampus possibly by inhibiting the chronic psychological stress-hippocampal oxidative stress-mitochondrial apoptotic pathway in psychological stress-induced depression rats, which may contribute to its effect in relieving depression.

Chronic psychological stress impairs germinal center response by repressing miR-155

Germinal centers (GC) are vital to adaptive immunity. BCL6 and miR-155 are implicated in control of GC reaction and lymphomagenesis. FBXO11 causes BCL6 degradation through ubiquitination in B-cell lymphomas. Chronic psychological stress is known to drive immunosuppression. Corticosterone (CORT) is an adrenal hormone expressed in response to stress and can similarly impair immune functions. However, whether GC formation is disrupted by chronic psychological stress and its molecular mechanism remain to be elucidated. To address this issue, we established a GC formation model in vivo, and a GC B cell differentiation model in vitro. Comparing Naive B cells to GC B cells in vivo and in vitro, the differences of BCL6 and FBXO11 mRNA do not match the changes at the protein level and miR-155 levels that were observed. Next we demonstrated that CORT increase, induced by chronic psychological stress, reduced GC response, IgG1 antibody production and miR-155 level in vivo. The effect of chronic psychological stress can be blocked by a glucocorticoid receptor (GR) antagonist. Similarly, impaired GC B cell generation and isotope class switching were observed. Furthermore, we found that miR-155 and BCL6 expression were downregulated, but FBXO11 expression was upregulated in GC B cells treated with CORT in vitro. In addition, we demonstrated that miR-155 directly down-regulated FBXO11 expression by binding to its 3́-untranslated region. The subsequent overexpression of miR-155 significantly blocked the stress-induced impairment of GC response, due to changes in FBXO11 and BCL6 expression, as well as increased apoptosis in B cells both in vivo and in vitro. Our findings suggest perturbation of GC reaction may play a role in chronic psychological stress-induced immunosuppression through a glucocorticoid pathway, and miR-155-mediated post-transcriptional regulation of FBXO11 and BCL6 expression may contribute to the impaired GC response.

Chronic psychological stress suppresses contact hypersensitivity: potential roles of dysregulated cell trafficking and decreased IFN-γ production

Increasing evidence shows that psychological stress can have dramatic impacts on the immune system, particularly the cutaneous immune response in dermatological disorders. While there have been many studies examining the impact of acute psychological stress on contact hypersensitivity there are relatively few studies concerning the impact of chronic psychological stress. Furthermore, the local immunological mechanisms by which chronic psychological stress impacts contact hypersensitivity still remain to be explored. Here we show that restraint-induced chronic psychological stress stimulates activation of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis and delays weight gain in female BALB/c mice. We observed that chronic psychological stress reduces the cutaneous immune response as evidence by reduced ear swelling. This correlated with a significant decrease in the inflammatory cell infiltrate. On the other hand, chronic psychological stress does not influence T cell proliferation, activation, or sensitivity to corticosterone but does increase CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cell percentages in draining lymph nodes during a contact hypersensitivity reaction. Chronic psychological stress induces a decrease in overall circulating white blood cells, lymphocytes, and monocytes during a contact hypersensitivity reaction suggesting extravasation from the circulation. Finally, we found markedly reduced local IFN-γ production in chronically stressed animals. Based on these findings we propose that chronic psychological stress reduces contact hypersensitivity due to dysregulated cell trafficking and reduced production of IFN-γ.

Influence of Bifidobacterium on the intestinal microflora and corticotropin-releasing factor in rats following chronic psychological stress

AIM: To determine the influence of chronic psychological stress on intestinal microflora and corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) and to investigate the protective effects of Bifidobacterium on intestinal function in rats.

METHODS: Fifty female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly and equally divided into five groups: normal group, stress group, Bifidobacterium group, Smecta group, and Bifidobacterium plus Smecta group. All these groups were subjected to either water avoidance stress (WAS) or normal condition for 2 h per day for 7 consecutive days. The in vivo intestinal permeability was evaluated by measuring urinary sucralose and other sugar probes including lactulose and mannitol using capillary column gas chromatography (CCGC). Some representative genera of gut flora in rat feces were counted on selective culture medium plates. The mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN) were removed, homogenized and cultured to determine bacterial translocation. The contents of serum CRF and adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

RESULTS: Compared with the normal group, the number of Escherichia coli (7.347 ± 0.277 vs 7.078 ± 0.229, P < 0.05), the 24-h urinary concentration of mannitol (5.097% ± 0.453% vs 4.718% ± 0.399%, P < 0.05), the rate of bacterial translocation to the MLN (40% vs 10%, P < 0.05), and the levels of CRF (300.8 ng/L ± 34.3 ng/L vs 267.0 ng/L ± 32.3 ng/L, P < 0.05) and ACTH (6.79 ng/L ± 0.651 ng/L vs 5.68 ng/L ± 0.799 ng/L, P < 0.05) increased significantly in the stress group. In comparison with the stress group, the number of Escherichia coli (7.044 ± 0.281 vs 7.347 ± 0.277, P < 0.05) and bacteroid (9.075 ± 0.393 vs 9.485 ± 0.306, P < 0.05); the rate of bacterial translocation to the MLN (10% vs 40%, P < 0.05) and ACTH level (5.92 ng/L ± 0.477 ng/L vs 6.79 ng/L ± 0.651 ng/L, P < 0.05) decreased significantly in the Bifidobacterium intervention group.

CONCLUSION: The disturbance of intestinal microflora occurs and CRF increases significantly in rats suffered from chronic psychological stress. Bidifobacterium could alleviate the disturbance of gut microflora caused by chronic psychological stress and partly restore intestinal barrier function.