Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jimin Yang, Guo Nan Yin, Do-Kyun Kim, Ah-reum Han, Dong Sun Lee, Kwang Wook Min, Yaoyao Fu, Jeongwon Yun, Jun-Kyu Suh, Ji-Kan Ryu, Ho Min Kim
Summary: The serum glycoprotein leucine-rich alpha-2-glycoprotein 1 (LRG1) is a multifunctional protein that modulates various signaling cascades. Its glycosylation alters LRG1's properties and functions, and aberrant glycosylation is recognized in diseases including diabetes. The crystal structure of LRG1 has been determined, and its deglycosylation at a specific site is essential for its interaction with LPHN2 and promotion of angiogenic and neurotrophic processes. In a diabetic mouse model, deglycosylated LRG1 alleviated vascular and neurological abnormalities.
EXPERIMENTAL AND MOLECULAR MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Sijia He, Jiyoon Ryu, Juanhong Liu, Hairong Luo, Ying Lv, Paul R. Langlais, Jie Wen, Feng Dong, Zhe Sun, Wenjuan Xia, Jane L. Lynch, Ravindranath Duggirala, Bruce J. Nicholson, Mengwei Zang, Yuguang Shi, Fang Zhang, Feng Liu, Juli Bai, Lily Q. Dong
Summary: The study identified LRG1 as an obesity-associated adipokine that exacerbates hepatic steatosis and insulin resistance induced by high-fat diet. LRG1 may promote hepatic steatosis by increasing de novo lipogenesis and suppressing fatty acid beta-oxidation, as well as inhibiting insulin signaling in the liver.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL INVESTIGATION
(2021)
Article
Oncology
Yuet Ping Kwan, Melissa Hui Yen Teo, Jonathan Chee Woei Lim, Michelle Siying Tan, Graciella Rosellinny, Walter Wahli, Xiaomeng Wang
Summary: This study revealed the important role of LRG1 in melanoma development and progression, with significant induction of LRG1 expression in melanoma cells and its mediation of melanoma cell invasiveness through the EGFR/STAT3 pathway. Targeting LRG1 may present a new strategy to control melanoma metastasis.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Athina Dritsoula, Laura Dowsett, Camilla Pilotti, Marie N. O'Connor, Stephen E. Moss, John Greenwood
Summary: This study investigates the role of IL-6 in defective angiogenesis mediated by LRG1. The results show that IL-6 activates LRG1 transcription through STAT3 phosphorylation, resulting in vascular destabilization. This finding is important for understanding the role of IL-6 in COVID-19 patients.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Rashed Alhammad, Mohamed Abu-Farha, Maha M. Hammad, Thangavel Alphonse Thanaraj, Arshad Channanath, Nada Alam-Eldin, Reem Al-Sabah, Lemia Shaban, Abdulrahman Alduraywish, Fahd Al-Mulla, Abdur Rahman, Jehad Abubaker
Summary: This study found that elevated levels of LRG1 are associated with obesity and increased levels of adipogenic markers in adolescents. This suggests the potential of LRG1 as an early biomarker for obesity and its related pathologies in adolescents.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Ashish Sarkar, Debolina Chakraborty, Vijay Kumar, Rajesh Malhotra, Sagarika Biswas
Summary: This study aimed to understand the mechanism of synovial fibrosis in osteoarthritis (OA) and explore its role in inflammation and joint stiffness. Proteomic techniques were used to identify differentially expressed proteins in the plasma samples of OA patients, and in vitro studies were conducted to investigate the function of a specific protein in inflammation and joint fibrosis.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jose Ignacio Martinez-Montoro, Luis Ocana-Wilhelmi, Rocio Soler-Humanes, Hanieh Motahari-Rad, Andres Gonzalez-Jimenez, Jose Rivas-Becerra, Alba Rodriguez-Munoz, Francisco J. Moreno-Ruiz, Monica Tome, Jorge Rodriguez-Capitan, Eduardo Garcia-Fuentes, Francisco J. Tinahones, Lourdes Garrido-Sanchez, Mora Murri
Summary: ZAG, an adipokine involved in adipocyte metabolism, has been found to be associated with metabolic parameters in obese patients. Lower levels of SAT and VAT ZAG expression are related to adverse metabolic profiles. However, the baseline expression of ZAG did not seem to affect the outcomes of bariatric surgery.
Article
Cell Biology
Yuanyuan Zhang, Xinyu Zhao, Xiaona Dong, Yuying Zhang, Haixia Zou, Yaoguang Jin, Wei Guo, Peng Zhai, Xu Chen, Alexei Kharitonenkov
Summary: Researchers have developed a GLP-1/GDF15 fusion protein and tested its potential for weight loss in animals. The molecule, QL1005, showed higher potency than the GLP-1 analog semaglutide in vitro. In obese mice, QL1005 led to reductions in body weight, food intake, insulin, fasting glucose, and triglycerides. In a cynomolgus monkey model of obesity, QL1005 dose-dependently reduced body weight, food intake, insulin, and glucose with limited side effects.
Review
Ophthalmology
Giulia De Rossi, Marlene E. Da Vitoria Lobo, John Greenwood, Stephen E. Moss
Summary: Retinal and choroidal diseases are leading causes of blindness and visual impairment, and LRG1 plays a critical role in these diseases. Understanding the contribution of LRG1 to vascular retinopathies and its potential roles in other diseases can inform the development of new drugs to address clinical challenges.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Alessandro Mantovani, Alessandro Csermely, Elena Sani, Giorgia Beatrice, Graziana Petracca, Gianluigi Lunardi, Stefano Bonapace, Giuseppe Lippi, Giovanni Targher
Summary: This study examined the association between plasma LRG1 levels and specific plasma ceramides in postmenopausal women with T2DM, showing that higher plasma LRG1 concentration was associated with higher levels of specific high-risk plasma ceramides.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Guo Nan Yin, Do-Kyun Kim, Ji In Kang, Yebin Im, Dong Sun Lee, Ah-reum Han, Jiyeon Ock, Min-Ji Choi, Mi-Hye Kwon, Anita Limanjaya, Saet-Byel Jung, Jimin Yang, Kwang Wook Min, Jeongwon Yun, Yongjun Koh, Jong-Eun Park, Daehee Hwang, Jun-Kyu Suh, Ji-Kan Ryu, Ho Min Kim
Summary: Researchers have discovered a molecular pathway that can repair erectile dysfunction caused by diabetes. This study may provide new treatment options for other diabetic complications as well.
EXPERIMENTAL AND MOLECULAR MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Wenjuan Jiang, Chuanting Xu, Songbing Xu, Wan Su, Changlin Du, Jiahui Dong, Rui Feng, Cheng Huang, Jun Li, Taotao Ma
Summary: The study suggests that macrophage-derived extracellular vesicles play a key role in aristolochic acid nephropathy, inducing injury and apoptosis in TECs via a TGF beta R1-dependent process.
CELL BIOLOGY AND TOXICOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Eun Ran Kim, Ji Ho Yun, Hyo-Jin Kim, Hyeon Young Park, Yoonseok Heo, Young Suk Park, Do Joong Park, Soo Kyung Koo
Summary: This study investigated the differences in serum hormone and inflammatory cytokine levels before and after surgery in Korean patients with obesity. The results showed that weight loss after surgery led to improvements in clinical parameters and reductions in inflammatory cytokines and hormones. These findings help us understand the mechanism of how bariatric surgery improves glucose metabolism.
FRONTIERS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Surgery
Karynne Grutter Lopes, Eline Coan Romagna, Daniel Sant'Anna da Silva, Michelle da Costa Tavares Bezerra, Paulo Roberto Falcao Leal, Jorge Eduardo da Silva Soares Pinto, Eliete Bouskela, Maria das Gracas Coelho de Souza, Luiz Guilherme Kraemer-Aguiar
Summary: Expressive weight loss after bariatric surgery, even in patients with high weight regain, suggests long-term metabolic benefits and protection. This may be related to decreased circulating levels of IL-6.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Ichitaro Horiuchi, Akira Horiuchi, Takeji Umemura
Summary: The serum level of leucine-rich alpha 2 glycoprotein (LRG) can serve as a biomarker for active ulcerative colitis (UC). In this study, it was found that LRG values were significantly elevated in patients with left-sided colitis and pancolitis, and could be used to predict patients with active UC, but not active proctitis.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE
(2022)