Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Hua Fu, Yong-Hong Gu, Juan Tan, Ye-Ning Yang, Guo-Hui Wang
Summary: The crosstalk between macrophages and tubular epithelial cells is important in the progression of renal fibrosis. In this study, the significance of circular RNA ACTR2 (circACTR2) in regulating macrophage inflammation, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of tubular epithelial cells, and the development of renal fibrosis was revealed. circACTR2 promoted the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome, inflammation in macrophages, and stimulated EMT and fibrosis of tubular epithelial cells by sponging miR-561. Knocking down circACTR2 and overexpressing miR-561 may benefit the treatment of renal fibrosis.
CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR LIFE SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Theodoros Eleftheriadis, Georgios Pissas, Spyridon Golfinopoulos, Maria Efthymiadi, Christina Poulianiti, Maria Anna Polyzou Konsta, Vassilios Liakopoulos, Ioannis Stefanidis
Summary: This study evaluated the response of renal proximal tubular epithelial cells (RPTECs) to high albumin concentration, focusing on the unfolded protein response (UPR) and DNA damage response (DDR). The results showed that albumin led to reactive oxygen species (ROS) overproduction and protein modification, which activated both UPR and DDR. This resulted in cellular apoptosis, senescence, and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). While agents against endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) only partially alleviated the harmful effects, inhibiting ROS upregulation prevented both UPR and DDR. Therefore, suppressing ROS overproduction may be more effective in mitigating the deleterious effects of albumin overload.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Sheron Perera, Gun Ho Jang, Yifan Wang, Deirdre Kelly, Michael Allen, Amy Zhang, Robert E. Denroche, Anna Dodd, Stephanie Ramotar, Shawn Hutchinson, Mustapha Tehfe, Ravi Ramjeesingh, James Biagi, Bernard Lam, Julie Wilson, Sandra E. Fischer, George Zogopoulos, Faiyaz Notta, Steven Gallinger, Robert C. Grant, Jennifer J. Knox, Grainne M. O'Kane
Summary: In advanced PDAC, hENT1 mRNA expression predicts ORR and OS in patients receiving GnP, while no association was observed in patients receiving mFFX.
CLINICAL CANCER RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Qi Wang, Fuqiang Wang, Xiangze Li, Zhi Ma, Dapeng Jiang
Summary: This study investigated the effect of quercetin treatment on renal fibrosis and its mechanism. The results showed that quercetin can alleviate fibrosis, inflammation, oxidative stress, and cell apoptosis. Quercetin alleviates fibrosis by inhibiting the activation of AREG/EGFR signaling.
PHYTOTHERAPY RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Hematology
Mahmoud Mikdar, Pedro Gonzalez-Menendez, Xiaoli Cai, Yujin Zhang, Marion Serra, Abdoul K. Dembele, Anne-Claire Boschat, Sylvia Sanquer, Cerina Chhuon, Ida Chiara Guerrera, Marc Sitbon, Olivier Hermine, Yves Colin, Caroline Le Van Kim, Sandrina Kinet, Narla Mohandas, Yang Xia, Thierry Peyrard, Naomi Taylor, Slim Azouzi
Summary: The study demonstrates a critical role for ENT1 in erythropoiesis, with its absence leading to abnormal nucleotide metabolism and protein phosphorylation, and genetic deletion of ENT1 resulting in anemia and macrocytosis. The findings highlight the importance of ENT1-mediated nucleotide metabolism in erythropoiesis.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yuqin Tan, Tong Zheng, Rui Zhang, Suxiang Chen, Qingdi Cheng, Jinhua Zhang, Ruojiao Wang, Min Chen, Ning Na
Summary: This study elucidates the role of the APA writer CSTF2 in the process of renal fibrosis, demonstrating that CSTF2 is upregulated by TGF-beta and facilitates FGF2 overexpression to form a pro-fibrotic axis. These findings suggest that CSTF2 is a potentially promising target for renal fibrosis that does not directly disrupt TGF-beta signaling.
BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-MOLECULAR BASIS OF DISEASE
(2022)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Zhiwen Xie, Yongqing Zhang, Wenlan Sun, Shan Hua, Bangmin Han, Juntao Jiang, Yingjian Zhu, Yifeng Jing
Summary: Maternal exposure to dibutyl phthalate (DBP) induces renal fibrosis in offspring. The study investigated the role of connexin 43 (Cx43) in DBP-induced renal fibrosis. The results showed that DBP increased the expression of Cx43 in renal tubular epithelial cells (RTECs), and silencing Cx43 alleviated DBP-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in HK-2 cells. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that DBP upregulated Cx43 expression through the Ang II/AMPK alpha 2 signaling pathway. These findings suggest that targeting Cx43 and the Ang II/AMPK alpha 2 pathway may be a potential treatment for renal fibrosis.
Article
Urology & Nephrology
Linlin Li, Hong Ye, Qiaoling Chen, Lixin Wei
Summary: This study investigated the function of COL28 in renal tubular cells by examining its mRNA expression and the effects of its overexpression on human tubular cells. The results showed that COL28 was expressed at low levels in normal renal tissues and higher levels in fibrotic kidney disease. Overexpression of COL28 promoted cell proliferation and migration and may be involved in epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). COL28 could be a potential therapeutic target for renal fibrotic diseases.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Xinyi Cao, Jiuchen Wang, Tianye Zhang, Zhiheng Liu, Lijun Liu, Ying Chen, Zehua Li, Youlu Zhao, Qi Yu, Tong Liu, Jing Nie, Yuanjie Niu, Yupeng Chen, Li Yang, Lirong Zhang
Summary: Renal tubular epithelial cells can respond to varying kidney injuries either adaptively or maladaptively. This study elucidates the chromatin-mediated mechanism underlying the responses of renal tubular epithelial cells to different kidney injuries, and identifies RXR alpha as a therapeutic target for acute kidney injury.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Yonghui Hu, Wangna Tang, Wenjie Liu, Zhibo Hu, Congqing Pan
Summary: This study found that AS-IV can alleviate renal tubular EMT in DKD patients by regulating CX3CL1, thereby reducing renal pathological damage.
DRUG DESIGN DEVELOPMENT AND THERAPY
(2022)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Wen-Wen Wang, Ying-Lu Liu, Mei-Zi Wang, Huan Li, Bu-Hui Liu, Yue Tu, Can-Can Yuan, Qi-Jun Fang, Jia-Xin Chen, Jie Wang, Yan Fu, Zi-Yue Wan, Yi-Gang Wan, Wei Wu
Summary: The study confirmed that Shenkang injection (SKI) can alleviate diabetic tubulopathy (DT) in a similar manner as rosiglitazone (ROS), and SKI achieves this effect by inhibiting epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-induced apoptosis.
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Chien-Hung Lin, Chuan Wan, Wen-Sheng Liu, Hsin-Hui Wang
Summary: Exposure to PM2.5 can induce EMT characteristics in HK-2 cells, with the IL-6/STAT3 pathway playing a key role in mediating early renal tubule cell injury.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Lei Du, Xuan Qian, Yuan Li, Xi-zhi Li, Lin-lin He, Liu Xu, Yi-qi Liu, Cheng-cheng Li, Pu Ma, Fang-lin Shu, Qian Lu, Xiao-xing Yin
Summary: This study demonstrates the important role of Sirt1 in renal tubular EMT of DN through mediating deacetylation of YY1, showing the potential for reversing the EMT process.
ACTA PHARMACOLOGICA SINICA
(2021)
Article
Oncology
Xunian Zhou, Fei Xiao, Hikaru Sugimoto, Bingrui Li, Kathleen M. McAndrews, Raghu Kalluri
Summary: By using genetically modified mice, researchers were able to simulate key genetic alterations found in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and demonstrate the functional role of systemic inflammation and the tumor microenvironment in the development of malignant cancer from preestablished dysplastic precursor lesions.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sheng-Lan Shi, Hiroyuki Fukuda, Takeshi Chujo, Takahisa Kouwaki, Hiroyuki Oshiumi, Kazuhito Tomizawa, Fan-Yan Wei
Summary: This study revealed that RNA-derived modified nucleosides are transported to extracellular space through equilibrative nucleoside transporters 1 and 2, with elevated levels of intracellular modified nucleosides being associated with an induction of autophagy response. Defective export of these modified nucleosides can lead to profound consequences for pathophysiology, as indicated by their role in inducing autophagy response and promoting Zika virus replication.
Article
Urology & Nephrology
Fernando Caravaca-Fontan, Hernando Trujillo, Marina Alonso, Montserrat Diaz-Encarnacion, Virginia Cabello, Gema Ariceta, Luis F. Quintana, Helena Marco, Xoana Barros, Natalia Ramos, Nuria Rodriguez-Mendiola, Sonia Cruz, Gema Fernandez-Juarez, Eva Rodriguez, Francisco de la Cerda, Ana Perez de Jose, Inmaculada Lopez, Loreto Fernandez, Vanessa Perez Gomez, Ana Avila, Luis Bravo, Javier Lumbreras, Natalia Allende, Maria Dolores Sanchez de la Nieta, Teresa Olea, Marta Melgosa, Ana Huerta, Rosa Miquel, Carmen Mon, Gloria Fraga, Alberto de Lorenzo, Juliana Draibe, Fayna Gonzalez, Amir Shabaka, Maria Luisa Illescas, Consuelo Calvo, Victoria Oviedo, Iara Da Silva, Elena Goicoechea de Jorge, Francisco Caravaca, Manuel Praga
Summary: The study validated the performance of C3G-HI as a predictor of kidney failure in patients with C3G, with the total chronicity score identified as the principal histologic correlate of kidney failure.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF KIDNEY DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Fatimah Al Khazal, Seungwoo Kang, Molly Nelson Holte, Doo-Sup Choi, Ravinder Singh, Patricia Ortega-Saenz, Jose Lopez-Barneo, L. James Maher
Summary: Mutations in genes encoding the subunits of succinate dehydrogenase can cause various disorders, including hereditary tumors. However, loss of SDHC did not result in PPGL in mice, but instead caused non-diabetic obesity.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
David R. W. Jayne, Peter A. Merkel, Thomas J. Schall, Pirow Bekker
Summary: In this study, the C5a receptor inhibitor avacopan was found to be noninferior to prednisone taper in achieving remission at week 26, but superior in achieving sustained remission at week 52 in patients with ANCA-associated vasculitis. All patients received cyclophosphamide or rituximab. The safety and clinical effects of avacopan beyond 52 weeks were not addressed in the trial.
NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Transplantation
Fernando Caravaca-Fontan, Montserrat Diaz-Encarnacion, Virginia Cabello, Gema Ariceta, Luis F. Quintana, Helena Marco, Xoana Barros, Natalia Ramos, Nuria Rodriguez-Mendiola, Sonia Cruz, Gema Fernandez-Juarez, Adela Rodriguez, Ana Perez de Jose, Cristina Rabasco, Raquel Rodado, Loreto Fernandez, Vanessa Perez Gomez, Ana avila, Luis Bravo, Natalia Espinosa, Natalia Allende, Maria Dolores Sanchez de la Nieta, Eva Rodriguez, Teresa Olea, Marta Melgosa, Ana Huerta, Rosa Miquel, Carmen Mon, Gloria Fraga, Alberto de Lorenzo, Juliana Draibe, Marta Cano-Megias, Fayna Gonzalez, Amir Shabaka, Maria Esperanza Lopez-Rubio, Maria Angeles Fenollosa, Luis Martin-Penagos, Iara Da Silva, Juana Alonso Titos, Santiago Rodriguez de Cordoba, Elena Goicoechea de Jorge, Manuel Praga
Summary: The longitudinal change in proteinuria is strongly associated with the risk of kidney failure in patients with C3 glomerulopathy, with a doubling of proteinuria levels resulting in a 2.5-fold increase in risk. A ≥50% reduction in proteinuria over time is significantly associated with a lower risk of kidney failure.
NEPHROLOGY DIALYSIS TRANSPLANTATION
(2022)
Review
Clinical Neurology
Pei Shang, Matthew Baker, Samantha Banks, Sa-Ik Hong, Doo-Sup Chol
Summary: A(2A)R antagonists and GLP1R agonists may have potential roles in the management of Parkinson's disease, with the former reducing dyskinesia and the latter alleviating neuroinflammation and sustaining cellular functions in the central nervous system.
JOURNAL OF MOVEMENT DISORDERS
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Clara Boces-Pascual, Aida Mata-Ventosa, Mireia Martin-Satue, Loreto Boix, Meritxell Gironella, Marcal Pastor-Anglada, Sandra Perez-Torras
Summary: Downregulation of hCNT1 protein was found in both colorectal and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, potentially regulated by miR-106a and miR-17, leading to chemoresistance to fluoropyrimidine-based treatments.
CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR LIFE SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Lee Peyton, Brandon Emanuel Leon, Hesham Essa, Yijuang Chern, Doo-Sup Choi
Summary: This study investigates the effects of J4, an adenosine analog, on alleviating alcohol withdrawal-related affective behaviors. The results show that J4 treatment reduces anxiety-like behavior and increases time spent in open arms, suggesting its potential as a general anxiolytic.
PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Marcal Pastor-Anglada, Aida Mata-Ventosa, Sandra Perez-Torras
Summary: The regulation of nucleotide pools is crucial for cellular functions. Mutations in genes encoding nucleoside and nucleobase transporters have been identified in certain rare diseases, causing various clinical manifestations. Understanding the physiological and molecular features of these transporter proteins helps in understanding the biochemical and clinical effects of these deficiencies.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Merce Brunet, Marcal Pastor-Anglada
Summary: The influence of pharmacogenetics in tacrolimus pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics needs further investigation to assist in predicting optimal dosage, personalized adjustment of the dose, and identifying high-risk patients. New strategies have been developed to improve personalized tacrolimus treatment, with lower doses associated with higher incidence of adverse events. Inconsistent genotype-phenotype relationships have been identified in tacrolimus pharmacodynamics.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Ada Man-Choi Ho, Mina P. Peyton, Samantha J. Scaletty, Sarah Trapp, Areonna Schreiber, Benjamin J. Madden, Doo-Sup Choi, Douglas B. Matthews
Summary: Repeated excessive alcohol consumption increases the risk of cognitive decline and dementia in older adults. This study found that chronic intermittent ethanol exposure impaired behavioral flexibility in aged rats but not in young adult rats. Proteomic analysis revealed alcohol treatment-related changes in proteins and pathways associated with neural transmission, synaptic plasticity, neuronal apoptosis, and insulin receptor signaling. These findings contribute to understanding the detrimental effects of alcohol on cognitive function in older adults.
Article
Neurosciences
Brandon Emanuel Leon, Lee Peyton, Hesham Essa, Tia Wieden, Nicole Marion, Wayne E. Childers, Magid Abou-Gharbia, Doo-Sup Choi
Summary: The study found that MC-100093 treatment has positive effects on depressive behaviors and ethanol consumption in female mice, but no significant effects in male mice. In addition, MC-100093 treatment reduces female preference for 10% ethanol. Western blot analysis of the medial prefrontal cortex and hippocampus revealed no changes in GLT1 protein abundance in both male and female mice.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Matthew Baker, Seungwoo Kang, Sa-Ik Hong, Minryung Song, Minsu Abel Yang, Lee Peyton, Hesham Essa, Sang Wan Lee, Doo-Sup Choi
Summary: The authors found that GPe arky neurons are involved in reward-seeking behaviors and primarily project to the dorsolateral striatum. Genetic ablation of this circuit shift behavior from goal-directed to habitual seeking.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Vicki Wang, Tung-Tai Kuo, Eagle Yi-Kung Huang, Kuo-Hsing Ma, Yu-Ching Chou, Zhao-Yang Fu, Li-Wen Lai, Jin Jung, Hoi- Choi, Doo-Sup Choi, Yazhou Li, Lars Olson, Nigel H. Greig, Barry J. Hoffer, Yuan-Hao Chen
Summary: GLP-1 agonists, such as PT320, show potential in improving behavioral and cellular parameters in a mouse model of Parkinson's disease (PD), particularly in the early stages of the disease. The efficacy may be closely related to enhanced dopamine midbrain function.
ACS PHARMACOLOGY & TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE
(2021)