Advanced Glycosylation End Product-specific Receptor Research Articles

Cardiovascular Risk Biomarkers in Women with and Without Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Objective: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a prevalent metabolic disorder with an increased risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) that is enhanced by obesity. This study sought to determine whether a panel of cardiovascular risk proteins (CVRPs) would be dysregulated in overweight/obese PCOS patients, highlighting potential biomarkers for CVD in PCOS. Methods: In this exploratory cross-sectional study, plasma levels of 54 CVRPs were analyzed in women with PCOS (n = 147) and controls (n = 97). CVRPs were measured using the SOMAscan proteomic platform (version 3.1), with significant proteins identified through linear models, regression analysis, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. Analysis on BMI-matched subsets of the cohort were undertaken. Functional enrichment and protein–protein interaction analyses elucidated the pathways involved. Results: Eleven CVRPs were dysregulated in PCOS (whole set, without matching for body mass index (BMI) or insulin resistance (IR)): leptin, Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist protein (IL-1Ra), polymeric immunoglobulin receptor (PIGR), interleukin-18 receptor (IL-18Ra), C-C motif chemokine 3 (MIP-1a), and angiopoietin-1 (ANGPT1) were upregulated whilst advanced glycosylation end product-specific receptor, soluble (sRAGE), bone morphogenetic protein 6 (BMP6); growth/differentiation factor 2 (GDF2), superoxide dismutase [Mn] mitochondrial (MnSOD), and SLAM family member 5 (SLAF5) were downregulated versus the controls. In BMI-matched (overweight/obese, BMI ≥ 26 kg/m2) subset analysis, six CVRPs were common to the whole set: ANGPT1 and IL-1Ra were upregulated; and sRAGE, BMP6, GDF2, and Mn-SOD were downregulated. In addition, lymphotactin (XCL1) was upregulated and placenta growth factor (PIGF), alpha-L-iduronidase (IDUA), angiopoietin-1 receptor, and soluble (sTie-2) and macrophage metalloelastase (MMP12) were downregulated. A subset analysis of BMI-matched plus insulin resistance (IR)-matched women revealed only upregulation of tissue factor (TF) and renin in PCOS, potentially serving as biomarkers for cardiovascular risk in overweight/obese women with PCOS. Conclusions: A combination of upregulated obesity-related CVRPs (ANGPT1/IL/1Ra/XCL1) and downregulated cardioprotective proteins (sRAGE/BMP6/Mn-SOD/GDF2) in overweight/obese PCOS women may contribute to the increased risk for CVD. TF and renin upregulation observed in the BMI- and IR-matched limited sample PCOS subgroup indicates their potential risk of CVD.

Identification and validation of diagnostic genes associated with neutrophil extracellular traps of type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) cause delayed wound closed up in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), but the specific regulatory mechanism of NETs-related genes (NETs-RGs) in T2DM is unclear. We acquired GSE21321 and GSE15932 datasets from gene expression omnibus (GEO) database. First, differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between T2DM and control samples of GSE21321 dataset were sifted out by differential expression analysis. NETs scores were calculated for all samples in GSE21321 dataset, and key module genes associated with NETs scores were screened by constructing co-expression network. Then, DEGs and key module genes were intersected to yield intersection genes, and candidate genes were identified by constructing a protein protein interaction (PPI) network. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression analysis was implemented on candidate genes to screen out diagnostic genes, and they were subjected to single sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA). Finally, immune characteristic analysis was carried out, and we constructed the gene-drug and transcription factor (TF)-miRNA-mRNA networks. Besides, we validated the expression of diagnostic genes by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). In total, 23 candidate genes were gained by PPI analysis. The 5 diagnostic genes, namely, inter-trypsin inhibitor heavy chain 3 (ITIH3), fibroblast growth factor 1 (FGF1), neuron cell adhesion molecule (NRCAM), advanced glycosylation end-product-specific receptor (AGER), and calcium voltage-gated channel subunit alpha1 C (CACNA1C), were identified via LASSO analysis, and they were involved in carboxylic acid transport, axonogenesis, etc. M2 Macrophage, Monocyte, Natural killer (NK) cell, and Myeloid dendritic cells (DC) were remarkably different between T2DM and control samples. Diagnostic genes had the strongest and the most significant positive correlation with B cells. The gene-drug network included CACNA1C-Isradipine, CACNA1C-Benidipine and other relationship pairs. Totally 76 nodes and 44 edges constituted the TF-miRNA-mRNA network, including signal transducer and activator of transcription 1(STAT1) -hsa-miR-3170-AGER, CCCTC-binding factor (CTCF)-hsa-miR-455-5p-CACNA1C, etc. Moreover, qRT-PCR suggested that the expression trends of FGF1 and AGER were in keeping with the results of bioinformatic analysis. FGF1 and AGER were markedly regulated downwards in the T2DM group. Through bioinformatic analysis, we identified NETs-related diagnostic genes (ITIH3, FGF1, NRCAM, AGER, CACNA1C) in T2DM, and explored their mechanism of action from different aspects, providing new ideas for the studies related to diagnosis and treatment of T2DM.

Astragaloside IV promotes the pyroptosis of airway smooth muscle cells in childhood asthma by suppressing HMGB1/RAGE axis to inactivate NF-κb pathway

Childhood asthma, a common chronic childhood disease, leads to high mortality and morbidity in the world. Airway smooth muscle cells (ASMCs) is a group of multifunctional cells that has been found to be correlated with the pathogenesis of asthma. Astragaloside IV (AS-IV) is a compound extracted from Astragalus membranaceus, which has the anti-asthmatic effect. However, the role of molecular mechanisms regulated by AS-IV in the biological processes of ASMCs in asthma remains unclear. Our current study aims to investigate the downstream molecular mechanism of AS-IV in modulating the aberrant proliferation and pyroptosis of ASMCs in asthma. At first, we determined that the viability of ASMCs could be efficiently suppressed by AS-IV treatment (200 μM). Moreover, AS-IV promoted the pyroptosis and suppressed PDGF-BB-induced aberrant proliferation. Through mechanism investigation, we confirmed that AS-IV could suppress high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) expression and prevent it from entering the cytoplasm. Subsequently, AS-IV blocked the interaction between HMGB1 and advanced glycosylation end product-specific receptor (RAGE) to inactivate NF-κB pathway. Finally, in vivo experiments demonstrated that AS-IV treatment can alleviate the lung inflammation in asthma mice. Collectively, AS-IV alleviates asthma and suppresses the pyroptosis of AMSCs through blocking HMGB1/RAGE axis to inactivate NF-κB pathway.

Proteomic insights into the associations between obesity, lifestyle factors, and coronary artery disease

BackgroundWe aimed to investigate the protein pathways linking obesity and lifestyle factors to coronary artery disease (CAD).MethodsSummary-level genome-wide association statistics of CAD were obtained from the CARDIoGRAMplusC4D consortium (60,801 cases and 123,504 controls) and the FinnGen study (R8, 39,036 cases and 303,463 controls). Proteome-wide Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was conducted to identify CAD-associated blood proteins, supplemented by colocalization analysis to minimize potential bias caused by linkage disequilibrium. Two-sample MR analyses were performed to assess the associations of genetically predicted four obesity measures and 13 lifestyle factors with CAD risk and CAD-associated proteins’ levels. A two-step network MR analysis was conducted to explore the mediating effects of proteins in the associations between these modifiable factors and CAD.ResultsGenetically predicted levels of 41 circulating proteins were associated with CAD, and 17 of them were supported by medium to high colocalization evidence. PTK7 (protein tyrosine kinase-7), RGMB (repulsive guidance molecule BMP co-receptor B), TAGLN2 (transgelin-2), TIMP3 (tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 3), and VIM (vimentin) were identified as promising therapeutic targets. Several proteins were found to mediate the associations between some modifiable factors and CAD, with PCSK9, C1S, AGER (advanced glycosylation end product-specific receptor), and MST1 (mammalian Ste20-like kinase 1) exhibiting highest frequency among the mediating networks.ConclusionsThis study suggests pathways explaining the associations of obesity and lifestyle factors with CAD from alterations in blood protein levels. These insights may be used to prioritize therapeutic intervention for further study.

Extracellular SQSTM1 exacerbates acute pancreatitis by activating autophagy-dependent ferroptosis

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is an abdominal inflammatory disease initiated by damaged pancreatic acinar cells and developed by systemic inflammation. SQSTM1 (sequestosome 1) has an intracellular function in mediating substrate degradation during macroautophagy/autophagy, and it can be released by macrophages and monocytes to trigger lethal inflammation during bacterial infection. Here, we report that extracellular SQSTM1 acts as a mediator of AP by enhancing the sensitivity to autophagy-dependent ferroptotic cell death. Serum SQSTM1 is elevated in AP patients as well as in mice that have cerulein-induced AP. The administration of SQSTM1-neutralizing antibodies protects against experimental AP in mice. Mechanistically, recombinant SQSTM1 protein (rSQSTM1) increases AGER (advanced glycosylation end-product specific receptor)-dependent ACSL4 (acyl-CoA synthetase long chain family member 4) expression, leading to polyunsaturated fatty acid production for autophagosome formation and subsequent ferroptosis. The rSQSTM1-elicited pathological responses during AP are attenuated in mice with the conditional deletion of Ager in the pancreas. These findings may provide not only new insights into the mechanism of autophagy-dependent cell death, but also suggest that targeting the extracellular SQSTM1 pathway is a potential strategy for the treatment of AP.

Docking and Molecular Dynamics-Based Identification of Interaction between Various Beta-Amyloid Isoforms and RAGE Receptor.

Beta-amyloid peptide (Aβ) is a ligand associated with RAGE (Advanced glycosylation end product-specific receptor). Aβ is translocated in complexes with RAGE from the blood to brain across the blood–brain barrier (BBB) by transcytosis. Aβ and its isoforms are important factors in the Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathogenesis. However, interaction with RAGE was previously studied for Aβ but not for its isoforms. The present study has been directed at identifying the key interaction interfaces between RAGE and Aβ isoforms (Aβ40, Aβ42, phosphorylated and isomerized isoforms pS8-Aβ42, isoD7-Aβ42). Two interfaces have been identified by docking: they are represented by an extended area at the junction of RAGE domains V and C1 and a smaller area linking C1 and C2 domains. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations have shown that all Aβ isoforms form stable and tightly bound complexes. This indicates that all Aβ isoforms potentially can be transported through the cell as part of a complex with RAGE. Modeling of RAGE interaction interfaces with Aβ indicates which chemical compounds can potentially be capable of blocking this interaction, and impair the associated pathogenic cascades. The ability of three RAGE inhibitors (RAP, FPS-ZM1 and RP-1) to disrupt the RAGE:Aβ interaction has been probed by docking and subsequently the complexes’ stability verified by MD. The RP-1 and Aβ interaction areas coincide and therefore this inhibitor is very promising for the RAGE:Aβ interaction inhibition.

HMGB1 is a mediator of cuproptosis-related sterile inflammation.

Cuproptosis is a recently recognized modality of cell death driven by intracellular copper-dependent mitochondrial stress. However, the mediators of the sterile inflammatory response to cuproptotic death are undetermined. Here, we report that high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), a damage-associated molecular pattern, is released by cuproptotic cells to initiate inflammation. Mechanically, copper accumulation-induced adenosine triphosphate (ATP) depletion activates AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) to promote HMGB1 phosphorylation, resulting in increased extracellular release. In contrast, genetic (using RNAi) or pharmacologic (using dorsomorphin) inhibition of AMPK activation limits cuproptosis and HMGB1 release. Functionally, the ability of HMGB1-deficient cuproptotic cells to promote advanced glycosylation end product-specific receptor (AGER, also known as RAGE)-dependent inflammatory cytokine production is greatly reduced. Thus, HMGB1 is a key immune mediator of cuproptosis-initiated sterile inflammation.

Advanced Glycation End Products: A Sweet Flavor That Embitters Cardiovascular Disease.

Epidemiological studies demonstrate the role of early and intensive glycemic control in the prevention of micro and macrovascular disease in both type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). Hyperglycemia elicits several pathways related to the etiopathogenesis of cardiovascular disease (CVD), including the generation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs). In this review, we revisit the role played by AGEs in CVD based in clinical trials and experimental evidence. Mechanistic aspects concerning the recognition of AGEs by the advanced glycosylation end product-specific receptor (AGER) and its counterpart, the dolichyl-diphosphooligosaccharide-protein glycosyltransferase (DDOST) and soluble AGER are discussed. A special focus is offered to the AGE-elicited pathways that promote cholesterol accumulation in the arterial wall by enhanced oxidative stress, inflammation, endoplasmic reticulum stress and impairment in the reverse cholesterol transport (RCT).

A genomic approach identifies sRAGE as a putatively causal protein for asthma

Asthma is a complex respiratory condition caused by environmental and genetic factors. Although lower concentrations of the anti-inflammatory protein soluble receptor for advanced glycation end products (sRAGE) have been associated with asthma in humans and mouse models, it is uncertain whether sRAGE plays a causal role in asthma. We designed a 2-stage study of sRAGE in relation to asthma with association analysis in FHS participants as well as causal inference testing using Mendelian randomization (MR). We measured plasma levels of sRAGE and performed cross-sectional analysis to examine the association between plasma sRAGE concentration and asthma status in 6546 FHS participants. We then used sRAGE protein advanced glycation end products (pQTLs) derived from a genome-wide association study of plasma sRAGE levels in ∼7000 FHS participants with UK Biobank asthma genome-wide association study in MR to consider sRAGE as a putatively causal protein for asthma. We also performed replication MR using an externally derived sRAGE pQTL from the INTERVAL study. Last, we conducted colocalization using cis-pQTL variants at the advanced glycosylation end-product specific receptor (AGER) locus with variants from the UK Biobank asthma genome-wide association study. Association analysis revealed that each 1 SD increment in sRAGE concentration was associated with a 14% lower odds of asthma in FHS participants (95% CI 0.76-0.96). MR identified sRAGE as putatively causal for and protective against asthma on the basis of self-reported (odds ratio [per 1 SE increment in inverse-rank-normalized sRAGE]= 0.97, 95% CI 0.95-0.99; P= .005) and doctor-diagnosed asthma (odds ratio= 0.97, 95% CI 0.95-0.99; P= .011). Through this genomic approach, we identified sRAGE as a putatively causal, biologically important, and protective protein in relation to asthma. Functional studies incell/animal models are needed to confirm our findings.

DCN released from ferroptotic cells ignites AGER-dependent immune responses

ABSTRACT Ferroptosis is a form of inflammatory cell death for which key mediators remain obscure. Here, we report that the proteoglycan decorin (DCN) is released by cells that are dying from ferroptosis and then acts as an alarm signal to trigger innate and adaptive immune responses. The early release of DCN during ferroptosis is an active process that involves secretory macroautophagy/autophagy and lysosomal exocytosis. Once released, extracellular DCN binds to the receptor advanced glycosylation end-product-specific receptor (AGER) on macrophages to trigger the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines in an NFKB/NF-κB-dependent manner. Pharmacological and genetic inhibition of the DCN-AGER axis protects against ferroptotic death-related acute pancreatitis and limits the capacity of ferroptotic cancer cells to induce a tumor-protective immune response. Thus, DCN is an essential mediator of the inflammatory and immune consequences of ferroptosis.

Mechanical Ventilation Exacerbates Poly (I:C) Induced Acute Lung Injury: Central Role for Caspase-11 and Gut-Lung Axis.

BackgroundThe mechanisms by which moderate tidal volume ventilation (MTV) exacerbates preexisting lung injury are unclear. We hypothesized that systemic endotoxemia via the gut-lung axis would lead to non-canonical and canonical inflammasome activation and pyroptosis in a two-hit model involving polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (Poly(I:C)), a synthetic analog of dsRNA and MTV and that this would associate with acute lung injury (ALI).MethodsAnesthetized mice were administered Poly(I:C) intratracheally and then 6 h later, they were mechanically ventilated for 4 h with otherwise non-injurious MTV (10ml/kg). Changes in intestinal and alveolar capillary permeability were measured. Further documentation of ALI was assessed by evans blue albumin permeability, protein and IL-1 family concentration in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) or plasma, and histopathology in cohorts of wildtype (WT), whole body genetically ablated caspase-11 (caspase-11-/-), caspase-1/caspase-11 double knockout (caspase-1/11-/-), gasdermin D (GSDMD)-/-, nucleotide-binding domain leucine-rich repeat-containing protein 3 (NLRP3)-/- and advanced glycosylation end product-specific receptor (RAGE) -/- mice.ResultsNon-injurious MTV exacerbated the mild lung injury associated with Poly(I:C) administration. This included the disruption of alveolar-capillary barrier and increased levels of interleukin (IL)-6, high mobility group proteins 1 (HMGB-1), IL-1β in BALF and IL-18 in plasma. Combined (Poly(I:C)-MTV) injury was associated with increase in gastrointestinal permeability and endotoxin in plasma and BALF. Poly(I:C)-MTV injury was sensitive to caspase-11 deletion with no further contribution of caspase-1 except for maturation and release of IL-18 (that itself was sensitive to deletion of NLRP3). Combined injury led to large increases in caspase-1 and caspase-11. Genetic ablation of GSDMD attenuated alveolar-capillary disruption and release of cytokines in combined injury model.ConclusionsThe previously noted exacerbation of mild Poly(I:C)-induced ALI by otherwise non-injurious MTV is associated with an increase in gut permeability resulting in systemic endotoxemia. The gut-lung axis resulted in activation of pulmonary non-canonical (cytosolic mediated caspase-11 activation) and canonical (caspase-1) inflammasome (NLRP3) mediated ALI in this two-hit model resulting in GSDMD sensitive alveolar capillary barrier disruption, pyroptosis (alveolar macrophages) and cytokine maturation and release (IL-1β; IL-18). Pharmacologic strategies aimed at disrupting communication between gut and lung, inhibition of inflammasomes or GSDMD in pyroptosis may be useful in ALI.

Metabolic syndrome and the plasma proteome: from association to causation

BackgroundThe metabolic syndrome (MetS), defined by the simultaneous clustering of cardio-metabolic risk factors, is a significant worldwide public health burden with an estimated 25% prevalence worldwide. The pathogenesis of MetS is not entirely clear and the use of molecular level data could help uncover common pathogenic pathways behind the observed clustering.MethodsUsing a highly multiplexed aptamer-based affinity proteomics platform, we examined associations between plasma proteins and prevalent and incident MetS in the KORA cohort (n = 998) and replicated our results for prevalent MetS in the HUNT3 study (n = 923). We applied logistic regression models adjusted for age, sex, smoking status, and physical activity.We used the bootstrap ranking algorithm of least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) to select a predictive model from the incident MetS associated proteins and used area under the curve (AUC) to assess its performance. Finally, we investigated the causal effect of the replicated proteins on MetS using two-sample Mendelian randomization.ResultsPrevalent MetS was associated with 116 proteins, of which 53 replicated in HUNT. These included previously reported proteins like leptin, and new proteins like NTR domain-containing protein 2 and endoplasmic reticulum protein 29. Incident MetS was associated with 14 proteins in KORA, of which 13 overlap the prevalent MetS associated proteins with soluble advanced glycosylation end product-specific receptor (sRAGE) being unique to incident MetS. The LASSO selected an eight-protein predictive model with an (AUC = 0.75; 95% CI = 0.71–0.79) in KORA.Mendelian randomization suggested causal effects of three proteins on MetS, namely apolipoprotein E2 (APOE2) (Wald-Ratio = − 0.12, Wald-p = 3.63e−13), apolipoprotein B (APOB) (Wald-Ratio = − 0.09, Wald-p = 2.54e−04) and proto-oncogene tyrosine-protein kinase receptor (RET) (Wald-Ratio = 0.10, Wald-p = 5.40e−04).ConclusionsOur findings offer new insights into the plasma proteome underlying MetS and identify new protein associations. We reveal possible casual effects of APOE2, APOB and RET on MetS. Our results highlight protein candidates that could potentially serve as targets for prevention and therapy.

Oral Vitamin D supplementation impacts gene expression in granulosa cells in women undergoing IVF.

Oral Vitamin D supplementation impacts gene expression in granulosa cells in women undergoing IVF.

S100 calcium-binding protein A9 from tumor-associated macrophage enhances cancer stem cell-like properties of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are crucial components of the tumor microenvironment. They play vital roles in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression. However, the interactions between TAMs and HCC cells have not been fully characterized. In this study, TAMs were induced using human monocytic cell line THP-1 cells in vitro to investigate their functions in HCC progression. S100 calcium-binding protein A9 (S100A9), an inflammatory microenvironment-related secreted protein, was identified to be significantly upregulated in TAMs. S100A9 expression in tumor tissues was associated with poor survival of HCC patients. It could enhance the stem cell-like properties of HepG2 and MHCC-97H cells by activating nuclear factor-kappa B signaling pathway through advanced glycosylation end product-specific receptor in a Ca2+ -dependent manner. Furthermore, we found that, after treatment with S100A9, HepG2 and MHCC-97H cells recruited more macrophages via chemokine (CC motif) ligand 2, which suggests a positive feedback between TAMs and HCC cells. Taken together, our findings reveal that TAMs could upregulate secreted protein S100A9 and enhance the stem cell-like properties of HCC cells and provide a potential therapeutic target for combating HCC.

Association of rs2070600 in advanced glycosylation end-product specific receptor with prognosis of heart failure.

AimsOur objective was to investigate the association of common variants in the coding region of advanced glycosylation end‐product specific receptor (RAGE) and the prognosis of heart failure (HF).Methods and resultsA total of 3394 HF patients were continuously enrolled from January 2009 to August 2018 with a median follow‐up of 20.4 months. Additionally, 2861 healthy subjects also participated in the study. By sequencing these two groups, we identified a common functional missense variant rs2070600 in the coding region of RAGE, which showed a significant association with the prognosis of HF [hazard ratio = 0.53, 95%, confidence interval (CI) = 0.30–0.94, P = 0.03], but no association with the risk of HF (odds ratio = 0.52, 95%, CI = 0.66–1.04, P = 0.106). A series of functional assays revealed that rs2070600‐A, but not ‐G allele, suppressed the expression of RAGE protein by facilitating the binding of miR‐125a‐3p. Furthermore, the RAGE messenger RNA levels of human peripheral blood lymphocytes were reduced in subjects with the rs2070600‐AA genotype compared with subjects with the rs2070600‐GG or ‐AG genotypes. Additionally, our Western blot results from human heart tissue showed increased RAGE expression in HF samples compared with that in healthy donors.ConclusionsOur results demonstrate that the common missense variant rs2070600‐A allele is associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular death and cardiac transplantation by facilitating the binding of miR‐125a‐3p.

Intracellular amyloid-β disrupts tight junctions of the retinal pigment epithelium via NF-κB activation

Drusen are focal deposits between the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and Bruch's membrane in the retina of patients with age-related macular degeneration. Amyloid-β is one of the important components of drusen, which leads to local inflammation. Furthermore, intracellular amyloid-β disrupts tight junctions of the RPE. However, the intracellular mechanisms linking intracellular amyloid-β and tight-junction disruption are not clear. In this study, intracellular amyloid-β oligomers activated nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) p65, leading to the disorganization of tight junctions of the RPE in mice after subretinal injection of amyloid-β. Amyloid-β also triggered NF-κB activation in the RPE cells in confluent culture, which was inhibited by the suppression of the advanced glycosylation end product–specific receptor. NF-κB inhibition by an IκB kinase inhibitor prevented the suppression of expression of tight-junction proteins, zonula occuludens-1 and occludin in RPE cells. In addition, tight-junction complexes remained intact in the RPE of mice with NF-κB inhibition, although there were intracellular amyloid-β oligomers. These data suggested that NF-κB inhibition might be a therapeutic approach to prevent amyloid-β–mediated tight-junction disruption.

Role of high-mobility group box 1 and its modulation by thrombomodulin/thrombin axis in neuropathic and inflammatory pain.

High-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), a nuclear protein, once released to the extracellular space, facilitates pain signals as well as inflammation. Intraplantar or intraspinal application of HMGB1 elicits hyperalgesia/allodynia in rodents by activating the advanced glycosylation end-product specific receptor (receptor for advanced glycation end-products; RAGE) or Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4). Endogenous HMGB1 derived from neurons, perineuronal cells or immune cells accumulating in the dorsal root ganglion or sensory nerves participates in somatic and visceral pain consisting of neuropathic and/or inflammatory components. Endothelial thrombomodulin (TM) and recombinant human soluble TM, TMα, markedly increase thrombin-dependent degradation of HMGB1, and systemic administration of TMα prevents and reverses various HMGB1-dependent pathological pain. Low MW compounds that directly inactivate HMGB1 or antagonize HMGB1-targeted receptors would be useful to reduce various forms of intractable pain. Thus, HMGB1 and its receptors are considered to serve as promising targets in developing novel agents to prevent or treat pathological pain. LINKED ARTICLES: This article is part of a themed issue on Neurochemistry in Japan. To view the other articles in this section visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.v178.4/issuetoc.

Effect of AGER on the biological behavior of non‑small cell lung cancer H1299 cells.

Advanced glycosylation end-product specific receptor (AGER) is a multi-ligand cell surface receptor abnormally expressed in lung cancer, and is a member of the immunoglobulin superfamily. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the effect of AGER on the biological behavior of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) H1299 cell line. A microarray-based gene expression profiling analysis of the GSE27262 dataset from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database was conducted to identify differentially expressed genes, which were verified using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. The expression of AGER in the normal human lung BEAS-2B cell line and NSCLC H1299 cell line was examined using reverse transcription-quantitative PCR. Lentiviral interference and overexpression vectors of AGER were constructed and transfected into H1299 cells using Lipofectamine®. AGER expression and biological properties, including cell viability, apoptosis, migration and invasion abilities, in H1299 cells were investigated using MTT, flow cytometry, wound healing and Transwell assays. AGER was expressed at a low level in NSCLC tissues and H1299 cells (P<0.05). Compared with control cells, AGER overexpression cells displayed decreased cell viability, proliferation, migration and invasion abilities, and significantly increased levels of apoptosis. Furthermore, AGER overexpression increased the expression of Bax and decreased the expression of Bcl-2 in H1299 cells (P<0.05), and AGER knockdown displayed the opposite effects on H1299 cells. Therefore, AGER overexpression decreased the proliferation, invasion and migration abilities of H1299 cells, and increased apoptosis. The present study suggested that AGER might serve as a potential molecular marker for NSCLC.

Effects of hub genes on the clinicopathological and prognostic features of lung adenocarcinoma.

Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is a common malignancy; however, the majority of its underlying molecular mechanisms remain unknown. In the present study, weighted gene co-expression network analysis was applied to construct gene co-expression networks for the GSE19804 dataset, in order to screen hub genes associated with the pathogenesis of LUAD. In addition, with the aid of the Database for Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Discovery, Gene Ontology, and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes, pathway enrichment analyses were performed on the genes in the selected module. Using the GSE40791 dataset and The Cancer Genome Atlas database, the hub genes were identified. It was discovered that the turquoise module was the most significant module associated with the tumor stage of LUAD. After performing functional enrichment analyses, it was indicated that the turquoise module was mainly enriched in signal transduction. Additionally, at the transcriptional and translational level, nine hub genes were identified and validated: Carbonic anhydrase 4 (CA4), platelet and endothelial cell adhesion molecule 1 (PECAM1), DnaJ member B4 (DNAJB4), advanced glycosylation end-product specific receptor (AGER), GTPase, IMAP family member 6 (GIMAP6), chromosome 10 open reading frame 54 (C10orf54), dedicator of cytokinesis 4 (DOCK4), Golgi membrane protein 1 (GOLM1) and platelet activating factor acetylhydrolase 1b catalytic subunit 3 (PAFAH1B3). CA4, PECAM1, DNAJB4, AGER, GIMAP6, C10orf54 and DOCK4 were expressed at lower levels in the tumor samples, whereas GOLM1 and PAFAH1B3 were highly expressed in tumor samples. In addition, all hub genes were associated with prognosis. In conclusion, one module and nine genes were recognized to be associated with the tumor stage of LUAD. These findings may enhance the understanding of the progression and prognosis of LUAD.

Determination of SIRT1 rs12778366, FGFR2 rs2981582, STAT3 rs744166, and RAGE rs1800625 Single Gene Polymorphisms in Patients with Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Purpose To determine the frequency of the genotype of signal transducer and activator of transcription protein 3 (STAT3) rs744166, sirtuin (SIRT1) rs12778366, fibroblast growth factor (FGFR2) rs2981582, and advanced glycosylation end product-specific receptor (RAGE) rs1800625 gene polymorphisms in patients with laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC). Methods A total of 944 subjects were evaluated, which includes 144 patients with LSCC and 800 healthy controls. The genotyping of STAT3 rs744166, SIRT1 rs12778366, FGFR2 rs2981582, and RAGE rs1800625 was carried out using the RT-PCR. Results The analysis of STAT3 rs744166, SIRT1 rs12778366, and FGFR2 rs2981582 gene polymorphisms did not reveal any differences in genotype distribution between the patients with LSCC and the control subjects. However, statistical analysis revealed that genotypes (AA, AG, and GG) of rs1800625 in RAGE gene were distributed statistically significantly differently between patients and controls (61.1%, 30.6%, and 23.6% vs. 72.5%, 25.8%, and 1.8%, respectively; p < 0.001). Additionally, statistical significance was observed in allele distribution between these two groups, i.e., allele G at rs1800625 was more frequently observed in the patient group than in controls (23.6% vs. 14.6%; p < 0.001). Conclusion RAGE rs1800625 gene polymorphism may play a significant role in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma development.