Activation Of Nuclear Receptors Research Articles

The endocannabinoid anandamide mediates anti-inflammatory effects through activation of NR4A nuclear receptors.

Endocannabinoids are lipid mediators, which elicit complex biological effects that extend beyond the central nervous system. Tissue concentrations of endocannabinoids increase in atherosclerosis, and for the endocannabinoid N-arachidonoyl-ethanolamine (anandamide, AEA), this has been linked to an anti-inflammatory function. In this study, we set out to determine the anti-inflammatory mechanism of action of AEA, specifically focusing on vascular smooth muscle cells. RNA-sequencing, RT-qPCR, LC-MS/MS, NanoBit, ChIP, microscale thermophoresis, NMR structural footprinting, Gal4 reporter gene assays and loss of function approaches in cell and ex vivo organ culture were used. AEA pretreatment attenuated the cytokine-mediated induction of inflammatory gene expression such as CCL2. This effect was also observed in preparations obtained from cannabinoid receptor knockout mice and after pertussis toxin treatment. The anti-inflammatory effect of AEA required preincubation, suggesting an effect through gene induction. AEA increased the expression of the nuclear receptors NR4A1 and NR4A2. Knockdown and knockout of these receptors blocked the AEA-mediated anti-inflammatory effect in cell culture and aortic organ culture, respectively. Conversely, NR4A agonists (CsnB, C-DIM12) attenuated inflammatory gene expression. AEA binds to NR4A, and mutations in NR4A attenuated this effect. The interaction of AEA with NR4A caused recruitment of the nuclear corepressor NCoR1 to the CCL2 promoter, resulting in gene suppression. By binding to NR4A, AEA elicits an anti-inflammatory response in vascular smooth muscle cells. NR4A-binding by AEA analogues may represent novel anti-inflammatory agents.

Structural proteomics defines a sequential priming mechanism for the progesterone receptor.

The progesterone receptor (PR) is a steroid-responsive nuclear receptor with two isoforms: PR-A and PR-B. Disruption of PR-A:PR-B signaling is associated with breast cancer through interactions with oncogenic co-regulatory proteins (CoRs). However, molecular details of isoform-specific PR-CoR interactions remain poorly understood. Using structural mass spectrometry, we investigate the sequential binding mechanism of purified full-length PR and intact CoRs, steroid receptor coactivator 3 (SRC3) and p300, as complexes on target DNA. Our findings reveal selective CoR NR-box binding by PR and unique interaction surfaces between PR and CoRs during complex assembly, providing a structural basis for CoR sequential binding on PR. Antagonist-bound PR showed persistent CoR interactions, challenging the classical model of nuclear receptor activation and repression. Collectively, we offer a peptide-level perspective on the organization of the PR transcriptional complex and infer the mechanisms behind the interactions of these proteins, both in active and inactive conformations.

Isotschimgine promotes lifespan, healthspan and neuroprotection of Caenorhabditis elegans via the activation of nuclear hormone receptors.

Isotschimgine (ITG) is a bornane-type monoterpenoid derivative naturally occurring in genus Ferula plants and propolis. Its effects on aging and the underlying mechanisms are not yet well understood. This study employed Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) as a model organism to evaluate the potential of ITG in extending lifespan, enhancing healthspan, and promoting neuroprotection, while exploring the underlying mechanisms involved. The results showed that ITG extended the lifespan and healthspan of C. elegans, significantly enhanced stress resistance and detoxification functions. Studies on mutants and qPCR data indicated that ITG-mediated lifespan extension was modulated by the insulin/IGF-1 signaling pathway and nuclear hormone receptors. Furthermore, ITG markedly increased stress-responsive genes, including daf-16 and its downstream genes sod-3 and hsp-16.2, as well as NHR downstream detoxification-related genes cyp35a1, cyp35b3, cyp35c1, gst-4, pgp-3 and pgp-13. Additionally, ITG alleviated β-amyloid-induced paralysis and behavioral dysfunction in transgenic C. elegans strains. The neuroprotective efficacy of ITG was weakened by RNAi knockdown of nuclear hormone receptors daf-12 and nhr-8. Overall, our study identifies ITG as a potential compound for promoting longevity and neuroprotection, mediated through nuclear hormone receptors.

Activation of nuclear receptor pregnane-X-receptor protects against abdominal aortic aneurysm by inhibiting oxidative stress

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a life-threatening condition, but effective medications to prevent its progression and rupture are currently lacking. The nuclear receptor pregnane-X-receptor (PXR) plays a crucial role in vascular homeostasis. However, the role of PXR in AAA development remains unknown. We first detected the PXR expression in human and murine AAA tissues by RT-qPCR and Western blot. To investigate the potential role of PXR in the development of AAA, we used adeno-associated virus-mediated overexpression of PXR and pharmacological activation of PXR by ginkgolide A (GA) in mouse AAA models induced by both angiotensin II (AngII) and calcium phosphate [Ca3(PO4)2]. The underlying mechanism was further explored using RNA-sequencing and molecular biological analyses. We found a significant decrease in both mRNA and protein levels of PXR in both human and murine aortic smooth muscle cells from AAA tissues, accompanied with phenotypic switching of vascular smooth muscle cell and increased oxidative stress. PXR overexpression in abdominal aortas and GA treatment successfully suppressed AAA formation in both mouse AAA models. RNA-sequencing data revealed that PXR activation inhibited gamma-aminobutyric acid type A receptor subunit alpha3 (GABRA3) expression. Additional mechanistic studies identified that PXR suppressed AAA through mitigating GABRA3-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and subsequent phosphorylation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK). Interestingly, p-JNK was found to induce ubiquitin-proteasome degradation of PXR. In summary, our data unveiled, for the first time, the protective role of PXR against AAA pathogenesis by inhibiting oxidative stress. These findings suggested PXR as a promising therapeutic target for AAA.

Structural proteomics defines a sequential priming mechanism for the progesterone receptor.

The progesterone receptor (PR) is a steroid-responsive nuclear receptor with two isoforms: PR-A and PR-B. Disruption of PR-A:PR-B signaling is associated with breast cancer through interactions with oncogenic co-regulatory proteins (CoRs). However, molecular details of isoform-specific PR-CoR interactions remain poorly understood. Using structural mass spectrometry, we investigate the sequential binding mechanism of purified full-length PR and intact CoRs, steroid receptor coactivator 3 (SRC3) and p300, as complexes on target DNA. Our findings reveal selective CoR NR-box binding by PR and unique interaction surfaces between PR and CoRs during complex assembly, providing a structural basis for CoR sequential binding on PR. Antagonist-bound PR showed persistent CoR interactions, challenging the classical model of nuclear receptor activation and repression. Collectively, we offer a peptide-level perspective on the organization of the PR transcriptional complex and infer the mechanisms behind the interactions of these proteins, both in active and inactive conformations.

HIV Modulates Osteoblast Differentiation via Upregulation of RANKL and Vitronectin.

Bone loss is a prevalent characteristic among people with HIV (PWH). We focused on mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and osteoblasts, examining their susceptibility to different HIV strains (R5- and X4-tropic) and the subsequent effects on bone tissue homeostasis. Our findings suggest that MSCs and osteoblasts are susceptible to R5- and X4-tropic HIV but do not support productive HIV replication. HIV exposure during the osteoblast differentiation process revealed that the virus could not alter mineral and organic matrix deposition. However, the reduction in runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2) transcription, the increase in the transcription of nuclear receptor activator ligand kappa B (RANKL), and the augmentation of vitronectin deposition strongly suggested that X4- and R5-HIV could affect bone homeostasis. This study highlights the HIV ability to alter MSCs' differentiation into osteoblasts, critical for maintaining bone and adipose tissue homeostasis and function.

Effects and risk assessment of halogenated bisphenol A derivatives on human follicle stimulating hormone receptor: An interdisciplinary study

Halogenated bisphenol A (BPA) derivatives are produced during disinfection treatment of drinking water or are synthesized as flame retardants (TCBPA or TBBPA). BPA is considered as an endocrine disruptor especially on human follicle-stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR). Using a global experimental approach, we assessed the effect of halogenated BPA derivatives on FSHR activity and estimated the risk of halogenated BPA derivatives to the reproductive health of exposed populations. For the first time, we show that FSHR binds halogenated BPA derivatives, at 10 nM, a concentration lower than those requires to modulate the activity of nuclear receptors and/or steroidogenesis enzymes. Indeed, bioluminescence assays show that FSHR response is lowered up to 42.36 % in the presence of BPA, up to 32.79 % by chlorinated BPA derivatives and up to 27.04 % by brominated BPA derivatives, at non-cytotoxic concentrations and without modification of basal receptor activity. Moreover, molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulations, and site-directed mutagenesis experiments demonstrate that the halogenated BPA derivatives bind the FSHR transmembrane domain reducing the signal transduction efficiency which lowers the cellular cAMP production and in fine disrupts the physiological effect of FSH. The potential reproductive health risk of exposed individuals was estimated by comparing urinary concentrations (through a collection of human biomonitoring data) with the lowest effective concentrations derived from in vitro cell assays. Our results suggest a potentially high concern for the risk of inhibition of the FSHR pathway. This global approach based on FSHR activity could enable the rapid characterization of the toxicity of halogenated BPA derivatives (or other compounds) and assess the associated risk of exposure to these halogenated BPA derivatives.

Gallein increases prostaglandin F2α‑induced osteoprotegerin and IL‑6 secretion in osteoblasts.

Gallein is a known Gβγ subunit inhibitor, but its function in bone metabolism, especially in osteoblasts, and its molecular mechanism remains to be elucidated. Osteoprotegerin (OPG), which is secreted from osteoblasts, binds to nuclear factor kB receptor activator (RANK) ligand (RANKL) as a decoy receptor, prevents RANKL-RANK binding, and inhibits bone resorption. IL-6 is not only a bone resorption factor but also as a bone metabolism regulator. Prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) promotes p44/p42 MAPK, p38 MAPK and stress-activated protein kinase/JNK phosphorylation in osteoblast-like MC3T3-E1 cells. In MC3T3-E1 cells, activated p44/p42 and p38 MAPKs promote IL-6 secretion and activated p44/p42 and p38 MAPKs and JNK promote OPG secretion. The present study aimed to investigate the effect and mechanism of gallein on PGF2α-induced OPG and IL-6 secretion using an osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cell line. It was found that gallein significantly increased PGF2α-induced OPG and IL-6 secretion in the MC3T3-E1 cell. By contrast, fluorescein, which is a gallein-like compound that does not bind to Gβγ, did not affect PGF2α-induced OPG and IL-6 secretion. Gallein significantly improved the PGF2α-induced OPG and IL-6 mRNA expression levels. Gallein did not affect the PGF2α-activated phosphorylation of p44/p42 and p38 MAPKs and JNK. Gallein increased PGF2α-induced OPG and IL-6 secretion in osteoblasts, indicating that gallein may regulate bone remodeling via OPG/IL-6 in bone metabolism.

Azologs of the Fatty Acid Mimetic Drug Cinalukast Enable Light-Induced PPARα Activation.

Photo-switchable nuclear receptor modulators ("photohormones") enable spatial and temporal control over transcription factor activity and are valuable precision tools for biological studies. We have developed a new photohormone chemotype by incorporating a light-switchable motif in the scaffold of a cinalukast-derived PPARα ligand and tuned light-controlled activity by systematic structural variation. An optimized photohormone exhibited PPARα agonism in its light-induced (Z)-configuration and strong selectivity over related lipid-activated transcription factors representing a valuable addition to the collection of light-controlled tools to study nuclear receptor activity.

Nuclear Receptor Corepressors NCOR1 and SMRT Regulate Metabolism via Intestinal Regulation of Carbohydrate Transport.

Nuclear receptor action is mediated in part by the nuclear receptor corepressor 1 (NCOR1) and the silencing mediator of retinoic acid and thyroid hormone receptor (SMRT). NCOR1 and SMRT regulate metabolic pathways that govern body mass, insulin sensitivity, and energy expenditure, representing an understudied area in the realm of metabolic health and disease. Previously, we found that NCOR1 and SMRT are essential for maintaining metabolic homeostasis and their knockout (KO) leads to rapid weight loss and hypoglycemia, which is not survivable. Because of a potential defect in glucose absorption, we sought to determine the role of NCOR1 and SMRT specifically in intestinal epithelial cells (IECs). We used a postnatal strategy to disrupt NCOR1 and SMRT throughout IECs in adult mice. These mice were characterized metabolically and underwent metabolic phenotyping, body composition analysis, and glucose tolerance testing. Jejunal IECs were isolated and profiled by bulk RNA sequencing. We found that the postnatal KO of NCOR1 and SMRT from IECs leads to rapid weight loss and hypoglycemia with a significant reduction in survival. This was accompanied by alterations in glucose metabolism and activation of fatty acid oxidation in IECs. Metabolic phenotyping confirmed a reduction in body mass driven by a loss of body fat without altered food intake. This appeared to be mediated by a reduction of key intestinal carbohydrate transporters, including SGLT1, GLUT2, and GLUT5. Intestinal NCOR1 and SMRT act in tandem to regulate glucose levels and body weight. This in part may be mediated by regulation of intestinal carbohydrate transporters.

Large-Scale Screening of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substance Binding Interactions and Their Mixtures with Nuclear Receptors.

Despite their significant impact, comprehensive screenings and detailed analyses of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) binding strengths at the orthosteric and allosteric sites of NRs are currently lacking. This study addresses this gap by focusing on the binding interaction analysis of both common and uncommon PFAS with the nuclear receptors (NRs) vitamin D receptor (VDR), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ), pregnane X receptor (PXR), and estrogen receptor alpha (ERα). Advanced docking simulations were used to screen 9507 PFAS chemicals at the orthosteric and allosteric sites of PPARγ, PXR, VDR, and ERα. All receptors exhibited strong binding interactions at the orthosteric and allosteric site with a significant number of PFAS. We verified the accuracy of the docking protocol through multiple docking controls and validations. A mixture modeling analysis indicates that PFAS can bind in various combinations with themselves and endogenous ligands simultaneously, to disrupt the endocrine system and cause carcinogenic responses. These findings reveal that PFAS can interfere with nuclear receptor activity by displacing endogenous or native ligands by binding to the orthosteric and allosteric sites. The purpose of this study is to explore the mechanisms through which PFAS exert their endocrine-disrupting effects, potentially leading to more targeted therapeutic strategies. Importantly, this study is the first to explore the binding of PFAS at allosteric sites and to model PFAS mixtures at nuclear receptors. Given the high concentration and persistence of PFAS in humans, this study further emphasizes the urgent need for further research into the carcinogenic mechanisms of PFAS and the development of therapeutic strategies that target nuclear receptors.

High-fat diet modulates bile acid composition and gut microbiota, affecting severe cholangitis and cirrhotic change in murine primary biliary cholangitis

Increasing evidence suggests that, in addition to a loss of tolerance, bile acid (BA) modulates the natural history of primary biliary cholangitis (PBC). We focused on the impacts of dietary changes on the immunopathology of PBC, along with alterations in BA composition and gut microbiota. In this study, we have taken advantage of our unique PBC model, a Cyp2c70/Cyp2a12 double knockout (DKO), which includes a human-like BA composition, and develops progressive cholangitis following immunization with the PDC-E2 mimic, 2-octynoic acid (2OA). We compared the effects of a ten-week high-fat diet (HFD) (60 % kcal from fat) and a normal diet (ND) on 2OA-treated DKO mice. Importantly, we report that 2OA-treated DKO mice fed HFD had significantly exacerbated cholangitis, leading to cirrhosis, with increased hepatic expression of Th1 cytokines/chemokines and hepatic fibrotic markers. Serum lithocholic acid (LCA) levels and the ratio of chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA)-derived BAs to cholic acid-derived BAs were significantly increased by HFD. This was also associated with downregulated expression of key regulators of BA synthesis, including Cyp8b1, Cyp3a11, and Sult2a1. In addition, there were increases in the relative abundances of Acetatifactor and Lactococcus and decreases in Desulfovibrio and Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group, which corresponded to the abundances of CDCA and LCA. In conclusion, HFD and HFD-induced alterations in the gut microbiota modulate BA composition and nuclear receptor activation, leading to cirrhotic change in this murine PBC model. These findings have significant implications for understanding the progression of human PBC.

Active fraction of Polyrhachis vicina (Rogers) inhibits osteoclastogenesis by targeting Trim38 mediated proteasomal degradation of TRAF6

BackgroundReactive Oxygen Species (ROS) is a key factor in the pathogenesis of osteoporosis (OP) primarily characterized by excessive osteoclast activity. Active fraction of Polyrhachis vicina Rogers (AFPR) exerts antioxidant effects and possesses extensive promising therapeutic effects in various conditions, however, its function in osteoclastogenesis and OP is unknown. PurposeThe aim of this study is to elucidate the cellular and molecular mechanisms of AFPR in OP. Study design and methodsCCK8 assay was used to evaluate the cell viability under AFPR treatment. TRAcP staining, podosome belts staining and bone resorption were used to test the effect of AFPR on osteoclastogenesis. Immunofluorescence staining was used to observe the effect of AFPR on ROS production. si-RNA transfection, coimmunoprecipitation and Western-blot were used to clarify the underlying mechanisms. Further, an ovariectomy (OVX) -induced OP mice model was used to identify the effect of AFPR on bone loss using Micro-CT scanning and histological examination. ResultsIn the present study, AFPR inhibited osteoclast differentiation and bone resorption induced by nuclear factor-κB receptor activator (NF-κB) ligand (RANKL) in dose-/ time-dependent with no cytotoxicity. Meanwhile, AFPR decreased RANKL-mediated ROS levels and enhanced ROS scavenging enzymes. Mechanistically, AFPR promoted proteasomal degradation of TRAF6 by significantly upregulating its K48-linked ubiquitination, subsequently inhibiting NFATc1 activity. We further observed that tripartite motif protein 38 (TRIM38) could mediate the ubiquitination of TRAF6 in response to RANKL. Moreover, TRIM38 could negatively regulate the RANKL pathway by binding to TRAF6 and promoting K48-linked polyubiquitination. In addition, TRIM38 deficiency rescued the inhibition of AFPR on ROS and NFATc1 activity and osteoclastogenesis. In line with these results, AFPR reduced OP caused by OVX through ameliorating osteoclastogenesis. ConclusionAFPR alleviates ovariectomized-induced bone loss via suppressing ROS and NFATc1 by targeting Trim38 mediated proteasomal degradation of TRAF6. The research offers innovative perspectives on AFPR's suppressive impact in vivo OVX mouse model and in vitro, and clarifies the fundamental mechanism.

Bile Acid Signaling in Metabolic and Inflammatory Diseases and Drug Development.

Bile acids are the end products of cholesterol catabolism. Hepatic bile acid synthesis accounts for a major fraction of daily cholesterol turnover in humans. Biliary secretion of bile acids generates bile flow and facilitates biliary secretion of lipids, endogenous metabolites, and xenobiotics. In intestine, bile acids facilitate the digestion and absorption of dietary lipids and fat-soluble vitamins. Through activation of nuclear receptors and G protein-coupled receptors and interaction with gut microbiome, bile acids critically regulate host metabolism and innate and adaptive immunity and are involved in the pathogenesis of cholestasis, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease, alcohol-associated liver disease, type-2 diabetes, and inflammatory bowel diseases. Bile acids and their derivatives have been developed as potential therapeutic agents for treating chronic metabolic and inflammatory liver diseases and gastrointestinal disorders. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Bile acids facilitate biliary cholesterol solubilization and dietary lipid absorption, regulate host metabolism and immunity, and modulate gut microbiome. Targeting bile acid metabolism and signaling holds promise for treating metabolic and inflammatory diseases.

Evaluation of the activity of cardiac glycosides on RORγ and RORγT nuclear receptors

Cardiac glycosides, derived from plants and animals, have been recognized since ancient times. These substances hinder the function of the sodium–potassium pump within eukaryotic cells. Many reports have shown that these compounds influence the activity of nuclear receptors. Thus, we assessed the effects of various cardiac glycosides at nontoxic concentrations on RORγ and RORγT. RORγT is a crucial protein involved in the differentiation of Th17 lymphocytes. Sixteen analyzed cardiac glycosides exhibited varying toxicities in HepG2 cells, all of which demonstrated agonistic effects on RORγ, as confirmed in the RORγ-HepG2 reporter cell line. The overexpression of both the RORγ and RORγT isoforms intensified the effects of these compounds. Additionally, these glycosides induced the expression of G6PC, a gene regulated by RORγ, in HepG2 cells. Subsequently, the effects of two endogenous cardiac glycosides (marinobufagenin and ouabain) and the three most potent glycosides (bufalin, oleandrin, and telecinobufagenin) were evaluated in Th17 primary lymphocytes. All of these compounds increased the expression of the IL17A, IL17F, IFNG, and CXCL10 genes, but they exhibited varying effects on GZMB and CCL20 expression. Molecular docking analysis revealed the robust binding affinity of cardiac glycosides for the ligand binding domain of the RORγ/RORγT receptors. Thus, we demonstrated that at nontoxic concentrations, cardiac glycosides have agonistic effects on RORγ/RORγT nuclear receptors, augmenting their activity. This potential can be harnessed to modulate the phenotype of IL17-expressing cells (e.g., Th17 or Tc17 lymphocytes) in adoptive therapy for combating various types of cancer.

Safety Implications of Modulating Nuclear Receptors: A Comprehensive Analysis from Non-Clinical and Clinical Perspectives.

The unintended modulation of nuclear receptor (NR) activity by drugs can lead to toxicities amongst the endocrine, gastrointestinal, hepatic cardiovascular, and central nervous systems. While secondary pharmacology screening assays include NRs, safety risks due to unintended interactions of small molecule drugs with NRs remain poorly understood. To identify potential nonclinical and clinical safety effects resulting from functional interactions with 44 of the 48 human-expressed NRs, we conducted a systematic narrative review of the scientific literature, tissue expression data, and used curated databases (OFF-X™) (Off-X, Clarivate) to organize reported toxicities linked to the functional modulation of NRs in a tabular and machine-readable format. The top five NRs associated with the highest number of safety alerts from peer-reviewed journals, regulatory agency communications, congresses/conferences, clinical trial registries, and company communications were the Glucocorticoid Receptor (GR, 18,328), Androgen Receptor (AR, 18,219), Estrogen Receptor (ER, 12,028), Retinoic acid receptors (RAR, 10,450), and Pregnane X receptor (PXR, 8044). Toxicities associated with NR modulation include hepatotoxicity, cardiotoxicity, endocrine disruption, carcinogenicity, metabolic disorders, and neurotoxicity. These toxicities often arise from the dysregulation of receptors like Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARα, PPARγ), the ER, PXR, AR, and GR. This dysregulation leads to various health issues, including liver enlargement, hepatocellular carcinoma, heart-related problems, hormonal imbalances, tumor growth, metabolic syndromes, and brain function impairment. Gene expression analysis using heatmaps for human and rat tissues complemented the functional modulation of NRs associated with the reported toxicities. Interestingly, certain NRs showed ubiquitous expression in tissues not previously linked to toxicities, suggesting the potential utilization of organ-specific NR interactions for therapeutic purposes.

Tailoring Microbial Amino Acid Metabolism in Fermented Foods to Enhance Nuclear Receptor Activity and Regulate Experimental Colitis Severity

Tailoring Microbial Amino Acid Metabolism in Fermented Foods to Enhance Nuclear Receptor Activity and Regulate Experimental Colitis Severity

Synergistic Steatosis Induction in Mice: Exploring the Interactions and Underlying Mechanisms between PFOA and Tributyltin.

This study explores the impact of environmental pollutants on nuclear receptors (CAR, PXR, PPARα, PPARγ, FXR, and LXR) and their heterodimerization partner, the Retinoid X Receptor (RXR). Such interaction may contribute to the onset of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), which is initially characterized by steatosis and potentially progresses to steatohepatitis and fibrosis. Epidemiological studies have linked NAFLD occurrence to the exposure to environmental contaminants like PFAS. This study aims to assess the simultaneous activation of nuclear receptors via perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and RXR coactivation via Tributyltin (TBT), examining their combined effects on steatogenic mechanisms. Mice were exposed to PFOA (10 mg/kg/day), TBT (5 mg/kg/day) or a combination of them for three days. Mechanisms underlying hepatic steatosis were explored by measuring nuclear receptor target gene and lipid metabolism key gene expressions, by quantifying plasma lipids and hepatic damage markers. This study elucidated the involvement of the Liver X Receptor (LXR) in the combined effect on steatosis and highlighted the permissive nature of the LXR/RXR heterodimer. Antagonistic effects of TBT on the PFOA-induced activation of the Pregnane X Receptor (PXR) and Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Gamma (PPARγ) were also observed. Overall, this study revealed complex interactions between PFOA and TBT, shedding light on their combined impact on liver health.

The Identification of a Novel Nucleomodulin MbovP467 of Mycoplasmopsis bovis and Its Potential Contribution in Pathogenesis.

Mycoplasmopsis bovis is a causative agent of crucial diseases in both dairy and beef cattle leading to substantial economic losses. However, limited control measures for M. bovis-related diseases exist due to a lack of understanding about the virulence factors of this pathogen, a common challenge in mycoplasma research. Consequently, this study aimed to characterize a novel nucleomodulin as a virulence-related factor of M. bovis. Employing bioinformatic tools, we initially predicted MbovP467 to be a secreted protein with a nuclear localization signal based on SignalP scores and the cNLS (Nuclear Localization Signal) Mapper, respectively. Subsequently, the MbovP467 gene was synthesized and cloned into a pEGFP plasmid with EGFP labeling to obtain a recombinant plasmid (rpEGFP-MbovP467) and then was also cloned in pET-30a with a consideration for an Escherichia coli codon bias and expressed and purified for the production of polyclonal antibodies against the recombinant MbovP467 protein. Confocal microscopy and a Western blotting assay confirmed the nuclear location of MbovP467 in bovine macrophages (BoMacs). RNA-seq data revealed 220 up-regulated and 20 down-regulated genes in the rpEGFP-MbovP467-treated BoMac group compared to the control group (pEGFP). A GO- and KEGG-enrichment analysis identified associations with inflammatory responses, G protein-coupled receptor signaling pathways, nuclear receptor activity, sequence-specific DNA binding, the regulation of cell proliferation, IL-8, apoptotic processes, cell growth and death, the TNF signaling pathway, the NF-κB signaling pathway, pathways in cancer, and protein families of signaling and cellular processes among the differentially expressed up-regulated mRNAs. Further experiments, investigating cell viability and the inflammatory response, demonstrated that MbovP467 reduces BoMac cell viability and induces the mRNA expression of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α, and apoptosis in BoMac cells. Further, MbovP467 increased the promoter activity of TNF-α. In conclusion, this study identified a new nucleomodulin, MbovP467, for M. bovis, which might have an important role in M. bovis pathogenesis.

Evaluation of genetic response of mesenchymal stem cells to nanosecond pulsed electric fields by whole transcriptome sequencing.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) modulated by various exogenous signals have been applied extensively in regenerative medicine research. Notably, nanosecond pulsed electric fields (nsPEFs), characterized by short duration and high strength, significantly influence cell phenotypes and regulate MSCs differentiation via multiple pathways. Consequently, we used transcriptomics to study changes in messenger RNA (mRNA), long noncoding RNA (lncRNA), microRNA (miRNA), and circular RNA expression during nsPEFs application. To explore gene expression profiles and potential transcriptional regulatory mechanisms in MSCs pretreated with nsPEFs. The impact of nsPEFs on the MSCs transcriptome was investigated through whole transcriptome sequencing. MSCs were pretreated with 5-pulse nsPEFs (100 ns at 10 kV/cm, 1 Hz), followed by total RNA isolation. Each transcript was normalized by fragments per kilobase per million. Fold change and difference significance were applied to screen the differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analyses were performed to elucidate gene functions, complemented by quantitative polymerase chain reaction verification. In total, 263 DEGs were discovered, with 92 upregulated and 171 downregulated. DEGs were predominantly enriched in epithelial cell proliferation, osteoblast differentiation, mesenchymal cell differentiation, nuclear division, and wound healing. Regarding cellular components, DEGs are primarily involved in condensed chromosome, chromosomal region, actin cytoskeleton, and kinetochore. From aspect of molecular functions, DEGs are mainly involved in glycosaminoglycan binding, integrin binding, nuclear steroid receptor activity, cytoskeletal motor activity, and steroid binding. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction confirmed targeted transcript regulation. Our systematic investigation of the wide-ranging transcriptional pattern modulated by nsPEFs revealed the differential expression of 263 mRNAs, 2 miRNAs, and 65 lncRNAs. Our study demonstrates that nsPEFs may affect stem cells through several signaling pathways, which are involved in vesicular transport, calcium ion transport, cytoskeleton, and cell differentiation.