Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Chih-Wei Chiu, Chih-Hao Yang, Jie-Heng Tsai, Cheng-Ying Hsieh, Shih-Yi Huang
Summary: The study found that platonin has inhibitory effects on inflammatory VSMCs, reducing the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthetase and interleukin-1 beta, suppressing NF-kappa B activation, decreasing MCP-1 production, preventing lipid accumulation, and demonstrating potent anti-inflammatory and vascular protective properties.
APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Haohang Ruan, Qing Huang, Benting Wan, Ming Yang
Summary: Curcumin can alleviate inflammatory damage in vascular smooth muscle cells induced by LPS by inhibiting the release of inflammatory cytokines, increasing cell viability, and reducing apoptosis. Additionally, curcumin increases the expression of TLR4 and acts through blocking NF-κB and JNK signaling pathways.
INFLAMMOPHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Peripheral Vascular Disease
Jaime Ibarrola, Qing Lu, Maria-Christina Zennaro, Iris Z. Jaffe
Summary: This study investigated the regulatory mechanisms of MR gene transcription in aging human smooth muscle cells. The results revealed the involvement of the inflammatory transcription factor NF kappa B and the hypoxia-inducible factor HIF1 alpha in the regulation of SMC MR transcription, which contributes to aging-related vascular stiffness and cardiovascular disease.
Article
Cell Biology
Kathleen Zohorsky, Shigang Lin, Kibret Mequanint
Summary: The study demonstrated that utilizing bead-bound Jagged1 was effective in activating Notch3 and promoting SMC differentiation/maturation, while magnetic pulling forces did not activate Notch3 but instead provided necessary clustering or traction forces for Notch activation. The findings suggest that manipulation of Jagged1 presentation strategy can improve biomaterial-driven control of SMC behavior.
Article
Cell Biology
Cansu Karakaya, Mark C. C. van Turnhout, Valery L. L. Visser, Tommaso Ristori, Carlijn V. C. Bouten, Cecilia M. M. Sahlgren, Sandra Loerakker
Summary: Mechanical stimuli and Notch signaling play important roles in regulating vascular growth and remodeling. This study reveals that cyclic strain decreases Notch signaling and leads to the loss of contractile features in vascular smooth muscle cells. Activation of Notch signaling partially rescues the contractile features of these cells.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Fei Liao, Ling Wang, Zhinan Wu, Guqing Luo, Yuxuan Qian, Xinjie He, Song Ding, Jun Pu
Summary: This study identified the protective effect of disulfiram against angiotensin II-induced vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) pyroptosis in abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). Disulfiram reduced inflammation, pyroptosis, and oxidative stress, and ameliorated AAA formation in vivo.
CARDIOVASCULAR DRUGS AND THERAPY
(2022)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Wei-Jian Fan, Ling-Di Lao, Feng Xiao, Yu-Xiang Weng, Jian-Wei Pan
Summary: This study found that lncRNA NR2F1-AS1 is upregulated in IA patients while AGTR1 is downregulated. The overexpression of NR2F1-AS1 inhibits VSMC proliferation and promotes apoptosis by downregulating AGTR1 and the NF-kB signaling pathway, thus promoting the development of IA.
JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL REGULATORS AND HOMEOSTATIC AGENTS
(2023)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Gabriel Hoi-Huen Chan, Enoch Chan, Carsten Tsun-Ka Kwok, George Pak-Heng Leung, Simon Ming-Yuen Lee, Sai-Wang Seto
Summary: Ageing is a risk factor for degenerative diseases, including cardiovascular diseases. The tumor suppressor gene p53 may play a regulatory role in vascular remodeling, atherosclerosis, and pulmonary hypertension. Further studies are needed to fully understand the effects of p53 in cardiovascular function and its therapeutic potential.
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Ting Wen, Yanyan Duan, Dan Gao, Xinxin Zhang, Xiaoyan Zhang, Liang Liang, Ziyan Yang, Peiran Zhang, Jiayulin Zhang, Jiaxing Sun, Yixuan Feng, Qijun Zheng, Hua Han, Xianchun Yan
Summary: This study aims to elucidate the regulation of Notch signaling in vascular smooth muscle cell phenotypic transition. The researchers found that miR-342-5p promotes vSMC-PT through a negative-feedback regulation of Notch signaling by downregulating FOXO3. In a simulated tumor microenvironment, miR-342-5p was upregulated by tumor cell-derived conditional medium and its blockade abrogated vSMC-PT induced by the medium. These findings suggest that miR-342-5p could be a potential target for cancer therapy.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yadong Li, Haide Li, Bin Chen, Fan Yang, Zhiying Hao
Summary: The study identified that miR-141-5p is downregulated in the plasma and VSMCs of AS patients and animal models. It functions as a protective factor during the development of AS by targeting the HMGB1/NF-kappa B pathway to inhibit VSMCs dysfunction.
JOURNAL OF BIOCHEMICAL AND MOLECULAR TOXICOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Developmental Biology
Jennifer Kurz, Anna-Carina Weiss, Hauke Thiesler, Fairouz Qasrawi, Lena Deuper, Jaskiran Kaur, Carsten Rudat, Timo H. Luedtke, Irina Wojahn, Herbert Hildebrandt, Mark-Oliver Trowe, Andreas Kispert
Summary: The Notch signaling pathway plays an important role in regulating the expression of Myocd and a group of late SMC structural genes during visceral SMC differentiation in the ureter.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Randa M. Breikaa, Kimberly Denman, Yukie Ueyama, Patricia E. McCallinhart, Aiman Q. Khan, Gunjan Agarwal, Aaron J. Trask, Vidu Garg, Brenda Lilly
Summary: This study reveals the essential role of Jag1 in adult endothelial cells in regulating and maintaining smooth muscle cell function in arterial vessels, partially through autoregulation of Notch signaling and influencing cell matrix/adhesion components in smooth muscle cells.
VASCULAR PHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Shadi A. D. Mohammed, Hanxing Liu, Salem Baldi, Pingping Chen, Fang Lu, Shumin Liu
Summary: This study found that Gedan Jiangya decoction (GJD) has therapeutic effects on spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) by lowering blood pressure, improving cardiovascular remodeling, and reducing inflammation.
MEDIATORS OF INFLAMMATION
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Donald Ho, Tyler O. Lynd, Claire Jun, Juhee Shin, Reid C. Millican, Benjamin K. Estep, Jun Chen, Xixi Zhang, Brigitta C. Brott, Dong Woon Kim, Jennifer A. Sherwood, Patrick T. J. Hwang
Summary: Vascular insults can lead to vascular diseases such as atherosclerosis through an inflammatory cascade involving endothelial cell, smooth muscle cell, and macrophage activation. This study introduces miR-146a encapsulated liposomes to reduce inflammatory responses in vascular cells and macrophages. The results showed that miR-146a encapsulated liposomes effectively reduced vascular inflammation by inhibiting ICAM-1 expression, decreasing monocyte adhesion, and reducing proinflammatory cytokine production and foam cell formation.
Review
Cell Biology
Min Li, Zhen-Wei Wang, Li-Juan Fang, Shou-Quan Cheng, Xin Wang, Nai-Feng Liu
Summary: The concept of cell death has expanded to include various forms such as necroptosis, pyroptosis, autophagy, and ferroptosis, in addition to apoptosis and necrosis. These different modes of cell death play critical roles in all aspects of life and have diverse implications in diseases. Atherosclerosis (AS) and vascular calcification (VC) are major causes of high morbidity and mortality in cardiovascular disease. Despite advancements in understanding the signaling pathways associated with AS and VC, the exact molecular basis remains unknown. This article reviews the molecular mechanisms underlying cell death and its implications for AS and VC, which may lead to the development of promising therapeutic strategies.
CELL DEATH & DISEASE
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Renying Wang, Peijing Zhang, Jingjing Wang, Lifeng Ma, E. Weigao, Shengbao Suo, Mengmeng Jiang, Jiaqi Li, Haide Chen, Huiyu Sun, Lijiang Fei, Ziming Zhou, Yincong Zhou, Yao Chen, Weiqi Zhang, Xinru Wang, Yuqing Mei, Zhongyi Sun, Chengxuan Yu, Jikai Shao, Yuting Fu, Yanyu Xiao, Fang Ye, Xing Fang, Hanyu Wu, Qile Guo, Xiunan Fang, Xia Li, Xianzhi Gao, Dan Wang, Peng-Fei Xu, Rui Zeng, Gang Xu, Lijun Zhu, Lie Wang, Jing Qu, Dan Zhang, Hongwei Ouyang, He Huang, Ming Chen, Shyh-Chang Ng, Guang-Hui Liu, Guo-Cheng Yuan, Guoji Guo, Xiaoping Han
Summary: By using single-cell RNA sequencing, researchers mapped organism-level cell landscapes for mice, zebrafish, and Drosophila. They identified structural inflammation and mitochondrial dysfunction as common hallmarks of organism aging.
NUCLEIC ACIDS RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Haoteng Yan, Ronghao Wang, Shuai Ma, Daoran Huang, Si Wang, Jie Ren, Changfa Lu, Xin Chen, Xiaoyong Lu, Zikai Zheng, Weiqi Zhang, Jing Qu, Yuanchun Zhou, Guang-Hui Liu
Summary: This article introduces a database called Lineage Landscape, which compiles transcriptomic and epigenomic information related to lineage development in multiple species, including humans. Users can explore genes of interest that exhibit dynamic expression patterns at the transcriptional or epigenetic levels at different stages of lineage development using this database.
NUCLEIC ACIDS RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Yiyuan Zhang, Yandong Zheng, Si Wang, Yanling Fan, Yanxia Ye, Yaobin Jing, Zunpeng Liu, Shanshan Yang, Muzhao Xiong, Kuan Yang, Jinghao Hu, Shanshan Che, Qun Chu, Moshi Song, Guang-Hui Liu, Weiqi Zhang, Shuai Ma, Jing Qu
Summary: Aging is a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, but the specific changes in cell types during cardiac aging are not clear. Through single-nucleus RNA sequencing analysis, we found that aged cardiomyocytes had a significant decrease in cell numbers and fluctuations in transcriptional profiles. We identified FOXP1 as a key downregulated factor in aged cardiomyocytes, and its dysregulation was associated with heart function and cardiac diseases. Our findings provide insights into the cellular and molecular changes in ventricular aging and potential targets for intervention.
Article
Cell Biology
Yifang He, Qianzhao Ji, Zeming Wu, Yusheng Cai, Jian Yin, Yiyuan Zhang, Sheng Zhang, Xiaoqian Liu, Weiqi Zhang, Guang-Hui Liu, Si Wang, Moshi Song, Jing Qu
Summary: Research shows that the expression of 4E-BP1 decreases during the senescence of human stem cells. The absence of 4E-BP1 leads to abnormal mitochondrial respiration and increased production of reactive oxygen species, resulting in accelerated cellular senescence. However, ectopic expression of 4E-BP1 can alleviate mitochondrial abnormalities and cellular senescence, maintaining mitochondrial homeostasis. This study provides a new potential target for counteracting human stem cell senescence.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Xiaoqian Liu, Zunpeng Liu, Zeming Wu, Jie Ren, Yanling Fan, Liang Sun, Gang Cao, Yuyu Niu, Baohu Zhang, Qianzhao Ji, Xiaoyu Jiang, Cui Wang, Qiaoran Wang, Zhejun Ji, Lanzhu Li, Concepcion Rodriguez Esteban, Kaowen Yan, Wei Li, Yusheng Cai, Si Wang, Aihua Zheng, Yong E. Zhang, Shengjun Tan, Yingao Cai, Moshi Song, Falong Lu, Fuchou Tang, Weizhi Ji, Qi Zhou, Juan Carlos Izpisua Belmonte, Weiqi Zhang, Jing Qu, Guang-Hui Liu
Summary: Whether and how certain transposable elements with viral origins, such as endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) dormant in our genomes, can become awakened and contribute to the aging process is largely unknown. In human senescent cells, we found that recently integrated human ERVs, HERVK (HML-2), can become active and produce retrovirus-like particles (RVLPs), which can induce senescence phenotypes in young cells. ERV activation was also observed in aged primates and mice as well as in human tissues and serum from the elderly. Repressing ERVs alleviates cellular senescence, tissue degeneration, and to some extent, organismal aging.
Article
Cell Biology
Qian Zhao, Yandong Zheng, Dongxin Zhao, Liyun Zhao, Lingling Geng, Shuai Ma, Yusheng Cai, Chengyu Liu, Yupeng Yan, Juan Carlos Izpisua Belmonte, Si Wang, Weiqi Zhang, Guang-Hui Liu, Jing Qu
Summary: Hair loss is a common problem that lacks efficient treatments. This study found that topical application of quercetin stimulates hair follicles to grow by promoting cell proliferation and enhancing blood vessel formation. The mechanistic study revealed that quercetin induces hair follicle differentiation and angiogenesis by activating HIF-1 alpha in endothelial cells. These findings highlight the potential of targeting the hair follicle niche for regenerative medicine and provide a pharmacological intervention for promoting hair regrowth.
Article
Cell Biology
Guoqiang Sun, Yandong Zheng, Xiaolong Fu, Weiqi Zhang, Jie Ren, Shuai Ma, Shuhui Sun, Xiaojuan He, Qiaoran Wang, Zhejun Ji, Fang Cheng, Kaowen Yan, Ziyi Liu, Juan Carlos Izpisua Belmonte, Jing Qu, Si Wang, Renjie Chai, Guang-Hui Liu
Summary: By establishing a dynamic single-cell transcriptomic landscape of cochlear aging, we found that loss of proteostasis and elevated apoptosis are the key features of cochlear aging. We also discovered unexpected transcriptional fluctuations in intermediate cells located in the stria vascularis. Additionally, upregulation of the ER chaperone protein HSP90AA1 can mitigate ER stress-induced damages associated with aging, suggesting a potential therapeutic target for delaying age-related hearing loss.
Article
Cell Biology
Ying Jing, Yuesheng Zuo, Yang Yu, Liang Sun, Zhengrong Yu, Shuai Ma, Qian Zhao, Guoqiang Sun, Huifang Hu, Jingyi Li, Daoyuan Huang, Lixiao Liu, Jiaming Li, Zijuan Xin, Haoyan Huang, Juan Carlos Izpisua Belmonte, Weiqi Zhang, Si Wang, Jing Qu, Guang-Hui Liu
Summary: In this study, the authors conducted phenotypic and single-nucleus transcriptomic analyses of non-human primate skeletal muscle aging. They found that myonuclei had higher transcriptional fluctuation compared to other interstitial cell types, suggesting a greater susceptibility of skeletal muscle fiber to aging. The downregulation of FOXO3 in aged primate skeletal muscle was identified, and it was revealed to be a hub transcription factor maintaining skeletal muscle homeostasis. Using a human pluripotent stem cell-derived myotube model, they showed that silence of FOXO3 accelerated human myotube senescence, while genetic activation of endogenous FOXO3 alleviated human myotube aging. Overall, this study unraveled the pivotal role of FOXO3 in safeguarding primate skeletal muscle from aging, providing insights for clinical diagnosis and targeted therapeutic interventions against human skeletal muscle aging and sarcopenia.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Shuhui Sun, Shuai Ma, Yusheng Cai, Si Wang, Jie Ren, Yuanhan Yang, Jiale Ping, Xuebao Wang, Yiyuan Zhang, Haoteng Yan, Wei Li, Concepcion Rodriguez Esteban, Yan Yu, Feifei Liu, Juan Carlos Izpisua Belmonte, Weiqi Zhang, Jing Qu, Guang-Hui Liu
Summary: This study investigates the phenotypic and molecular adaptations to exercise in young and old mice, and reveals that exercise protects tissues from infectious injury, suppresses inflammaging in aged individuals, and improves the central nervous system and systemic vasculature. The study also uncovers the role of the core circadian clock protein BMAL1 in delaying senescence and promoting recovery from infectious damage, resembling the beneficial effects of exercise. These findings highlight the significance of exercise in rejuvenating the circadian clock network and pave the way for further exploration of the interaction between exercise, aging, and immune challenges in the whole organism.
Article
Cell Biology
Ying Jing, Yuesheng Zuo, Liang Sun, Zheng-Rong Yu, Shuai Ma, Huifang Hu, Qian Zhao, Daoyuan Huang, Weiqi Zhang, Juan Carlos Izpisua Belmonte, Yang Yu, Jing Qu, Guang-Hui Liu, Si Wang
Summary: Sarcopenia, a muscle disorder associated with ageing, increases frailty, risk of falling, and mortality in the elderly. The study reveals that the gene SESN1 plays a crucial role in protecting skeletal muscle from ageing, downstream of the longevity gene FOXO3. Knockdown of SESN1 led to ageing phenotypes in human myotubes, similar to FOXO3-deficient myotubes, while activating SESN1 alleviated senescence. Additionally, SESN1 was identified as a protective factor against muscle atrophy, as administration of recombinant SESN1 protein attenuated senescence in vitro and facilitated muscle regeneration in vivo.
CELL PROLIFERATION
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Hui Zhang, Jiaming Li, Yang Yu, Jie Ren, Qiang Liu, Zhaoshi Bao, Shuhui Sun, Xiaoqian Liu, Shuai Ma, Zunpeng Liu, Kaowen Yan, Zeming Wu, Yanling Fan, Xiaoyan Sun, Yixin Zhang, Qianzhao Ji, Fang Cheng, Peng-Hu Wei, Xibo Ma, Shiqian Zhang, Zhengwei Xie, Yuyu Niu, Yan-Jiang Wang, Jing-Dong J. Han, Tao Jiang, Guoguang Zhao, Weizhi Ji, Juan Carlos Izpisua Belmonte, Si Wang, Jing Qu, Weiqi Zhang, Guang-Hui Liu
Summary: By analyzing aged non-human primates, we uncovered the molecular and neuropathological changes in the primate frontal lobe associated with aging, including nuclear lamina and heterochromatin erosion, resurrection of endogenous retroviruses, activation of pro-inflammatory signaling, and cellular senescence. We also demonstrated that these aging-related changes can be alleviated by treatment with the nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor abacavir, both in vitro and in vivo.
Letter
Cell Biology
Lan-Zhu Li, Kuan Yang, Yaobin Jing, Yanling Fan, Xiaoyu Jiang, Si Wang, Guang-Hui Liu, Jing Qu, Shuai Ma, Weiqi Zhang
Letter
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jie Ren, Moshi Song, Weiqi Zhang, Jian-Ping Cai, Feng Cao, Zhongwei Cao, Piu Chan, Chang Chen, Guobing Chen, Hou-Zao Chen, Jun Chen, Xiao-Chun Chen, Weimin Ci, Bi-Sen Ding, Qiurong Ding, Feng Gao, Shaorong Gao, Jing-Dong J. Han, Qi-Yang He, Kai Huang, Zhenyu Ju, Qing-Peng Kong, Ji Li, Jian Li, Jingyi Li, Xin Li, Baohua Liu, Feng Liu, Jun-Ping Liu, Lin Liu, Qiang Liu, Qiang Liu, Xingguo Liu, Yong Liu, Xianghang Luo, Shuai Ma, Xinran Ma, Zhiyong Mao, Jing Nie, Yaojin Peng, Jing Qu, Ruibao Ren, Weihong Song, Zhou Songyang, Liang Sun, Yi Eve Sun, Yu Sun, Mei Tian, Xiao-Li Tian, Ye Tian, Jianwei Wang, Shusen Wang, Si Wang, Wengong Wang, Xia Wang, Xiaoning Wang, Yan-Jiang Wang, Yunfang Wang, Catherine C. L. Wong, Andy Peng Xiang, Yichuan Xiao, Zhi-Xiong Xiao, Zhengwei Xie, Wei Xiong, Daichao Xu, Ze Yang, Jing Ye, Wei Yu, Rui Yue, Cuntai Zhang, Hongbo Zhang, Liang Zhang, Xinchao Zhang, Yong Zhang, Yun-Wu Zhang, Zhuohua Zhang, Tongbiao Zhao, Yuzheng Zhao, Zhongjun Zhou, Dahai Zhu, Weiguo Zou, Gang Pei, Guang-Hui Liu
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Jiaming Li, Muzhao Xiong, Xiang-Hong Fu, Yanling Fan, Chen Dong, Xiaoyan Sun, Fang Zheng, Si-Wei Wang, Lixiao Liu, Ming Xu, Cui Wang, Jiale Ping, Shanshan Che, Qiaoran Wang, Kuan Yang, Yuesheng Zuo, Xiaoyong Lu, Zikai Zheng, Tian Lan, Si Wang, Shuai Ma, Shuhui Sun, Bin Zhang, Chen-Shu Chen, Ke-Yun Cheng, Jinlin Ye, Jing Qu, Yongbia Xue, Yun-Gui Yang, Feng Zhang, Weiqi Zhang, Guang-Hui Liu
Summary: This study identified aging markers and developed aging clocks based on multimodal measurements in a cohort of women. The study found that aging can be classified into four modalities with distinct biological functions. Waves of changes in biological pathways were observed to peak in the third and fifth decades of life. The developed aging clocks were shown to measure biological age and assess the effects of hormone replacement therapy on aging deceleration.
Article
Cell Biology
Zeming Wu, Mingming Lu, Di Liu, Yue Shi, Jie Ren, Si Wang, Ying Jing, Sheng Zhang, Qian Zhao, Hongyu Li, Zihui Yu, Zunpeng Liu, Shijia Bi, Tuo Wei, Yun-Gui Yang, Jingfa Xiao, Juan Carlos Izpisua Belmonte, Jing Qu, Weiqi Zhang, Weimin Ci, Guang-Hui Liu
Summary: The authors characterized m(6)A dynamics in primate tissue aging and revealed a new role for the METTL3-m(6)A-NPNT axis in maintaining skeletal muscle homeostasis, thereby providing insight into the epitranscriptomic machinery underlying primate aging. The study demonstrates the correlation between m(6)A modifications and gene expression homeostasis across tissues and tissue-type-specific aging-associated m(6)A dynamics. Furthermore, they identify METTL3 deficiency and decreased expression of NPNT in senescent myotubes, highlighting the importance of the METTL3-m(6)A-NPNT axis in counteracting skeletal muscle degeneration during aging.