Aliskiren Attenuates Steatohepatitis and Increases Turnover of Hepatic Fat in Mice Fed with a Methionine and Choline Deficient Diet

Background & Aims

Activation of the renin-angiotensin-system is known to play a role in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. Renin knockout mice manifest decreased hepatic steatosis. Aliskiren is the first direct renin inhibitor to be approved for clinical use. Our study aims to evaluate the possible therapeutic effects and mechanism of the chronic administration of aliskiren in a dietary steatohepatitis murine model.

Methods

Male C57BL/6 mice were fed with a methionine and choline-deficient (MCD) diet to induce steatohepatitis. After 8 weeks of feeding, the injured mice were randomly assigned to receive aliskiren (50 mg_·kg^-1 per day) or vehicle administration for 4 weeks. Normal controls were also administered aliskiren (50 mg_·kg^-1 per day) or a vehicle for 4 weeks.

Results

In the MCD mice, aliskiren attenuated hepatic steatosis, inflammation and fibrosis. Aliskiren did not change expression of lipogenic genes but increase turnover of hepatic fat by up-regulating peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α, carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1a, cytochrome P450-4A14 and phosphorylated AMP-activated protein kinase. Furthermore, aliskiren decreased the hepatic expression of angiotensin II and nuclear factor κB. The levels of oxidative stress, hepatocyte apoptosis, activation of Kupffer cells and hepatic stellate cells, and pro-fibrotic markers were also reduced in the livers of the MCD mice receiving aliskiren.

Conclusions

Aliskiren attenuates steatohepatitis and fibrosis in mice fed with a MCD diet. Thus, the noted therapeutic effects might come from not only the reduction of angiotensin II but also the up-regulation of fatty acid oxidation-related genes.     

Proteomic Analysis of Saliva in HIV-Positive Heroin Addicts Reveals Proteins Correlated with Cognition

The prevalence of HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) remains high despite effective antiretroviral therapies. Multiple etiologies have been proposed over the last several years to account for this phenomenon, including the neurotoxic effects of antiretrovirals and co-morbid substance abuse; however, no underlying molecular mechanism has been identified. Emerging evidence in several fields has linked the gut to brain diseases, but the effect of the gut on the brain during HIV infection has not been explored. Saliva is the most accessible gut biofluid, and is therefore of great scientific interest for diagnostic and prognostic purposes. This study presents a longitudinal, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry-based quantitative proteomics study investigating saliva samples taken from 8 HIV-positive (HIV⁺), 11 −negative (HIV⁻) heroin addicts. In addition, saliva samples were investigated from 11 HIV⁻, non-heroin addicted healthy controls. In the HIV⁺ group, 58 proteins were identified that show significant correlations with cognitive scores, implicating disruption of protein quality control pathways by HIV. Notably, only one protein from the HIV⁻ heroin addict cohort showed a significant correlation with cognitive scores, and no proteins correlated with cognitive scores in the healthy control group. In addition, the majority of correlated proteins have been shown to be associated with exosomes, allowing us to propose that the salivary glands and/or oral epithelium may modulate brain function during HIV infection through the release of discrete packets of proteins in the form of exosomes.     

高蛋氨酸饮食对大鼠血管内皮细胞分泌功能的影响

目的:探讨高蛋氨酸饮食对大鼠血管内皮细胞分泌功能的影响。方法:雄性Wistar大鼠随机分为正常饮食对照组(对照组)和高蛋氨酸饮食组(高蛋氨酸组)。对照组喂饲普通饲料,高蛋氨酸组大鼠喂饲含3%蛋氨酸的饲料,共8周。采用高效液相色谱法测定大鼠血浆同型半胱氨酸含量,以MDA、SOD、NO/ET和t-PA/PAI平衡等指标建立研究平台和内皮功能评价体系,同时以扫描电镜观察主动脉弓血管内皮细胞形态。结果:与对照组相比,高蛋氨酸组血浆Hcy含量显著高于对照组,是对照组的2倍以上;血浆MDA和SOD活力显著升高(P<0.05),t-PA/PAI-1和NO/ET比值均显著降低(P<0.05)。扫描电镜显示高蛋氨酸组大鼠内皮细胞呈典型虫蛀样损害,伴有附壁血栓形成和脂质沉积。结论:高蛋氨酸饮食可诱发大鼠高半胱氨酸血症,Hcy可通过氧化应激机制损伤血管内细胞分泌功能,血浆NO/ET和t-PA/PAI-1系统失衡。     

LC/MS-Based Quantitative Proteomic Analysis of Paraffin-Embedded Archival Melanomas Reveals Potential Proteomic Biomarkers Associated with Metastasis

Background

Melanoma metastasis status is highly associated with the overall survival of patients; yet, little is known about proteomic changes during melanoma tumor progression. To better understand the changes in protein expression involved in melanoma progression and metastasis, and to identify potential biomarkers, we conducted a global quantitative proteomic analysis on archival metastatic and primary melanomas.

Methodology and Findings

A total of 16 metastatic and 8 primary cutaneous melanomas were assessed. Proteins were extracted from laser captured microdissected formalin fixed paraffin-embedded archival tissues by liquefying tissue cells. These preparations were analyzed by a LC/MS-based label-free protein quantification method. More than 1500 proteins were identified in the tissue lysates with a peptide ID confidence level of >75%. This approach identified 120 significant changes in protein levels. These proteins were identified from multiple peptides with high confidence identification and were expressed at significantly different levels in metastases as compared with primary melanomas (q-Value<0.05).

Conclusions and Significance

The differentially expressed proteins were classified by biological process or mapped into biological system networks, and several proteins were implicated by these analyses as cancer- or metastasis-related. These proteins represent potential biomarkers for tumor progression. The study successfully identified proteins that are differentially expressed in formalin fixed paraffin-embedded specimens of metastatic and primary melanoma.     

iTRAQ-Based Quantitative Proteomic Analysis of Cotton Roots and Leaves Reveals Pathways Associated with Salt Stress

Salinity is a major abiotic stress that affects plant growth and development. In this study, we performed a proteomic analysis of cotton roots and leaf tissue following exposure to saline stress. 611 and 1477 proteins were differentially expressed in the roots and leaves, respectively. In the roots, 259 (42%) proteins were up-regulated and 352 (58%) were down-regulated. In the leaves, 748 (51%) proteins were up-regulated and 729 (49%) were down-regulated. On the basis of Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis, we concluded that the phenylalanine metabolism and starch and sucrose metabolism were active for energy homeostasis to cope with salt stress in cotton roots. Moreover, photosynthesis, pyruvate metabolism, glycolysis / gluconeogenesis, carbon fixation in photosynthetic organisms and phenylalanine metabolism were inhabited to reduce energy consumption. Characterization of the signaling pathways will help elucidate the mechanism activated by cotton in response to salt stress.     

高脂及MCD饮食诱导非酒精性脂肪性肝炎动物模型的比较

目的:对高脂饮食诱发的大鼠NASH模型与蛋氨酸胆碱缺乏饮食诱发的小鼠NASH模型进行血清学及病理学比较,并初步探讨两种模型的发病过程及机制。方法:高脂饮食喂养SD大鼠8周,蛋氨酸胆碱缺乏饮食喂养C57BL/6小鼠2周,以制备NASH模型。取材后,血清用比色法对TG、CHO、FPG的含量进行检测,用放免法对FINS的含量进行检测,并对HOMA-IR指数进行计算;肝组织制成石蜡切片及冰冻切片进行HE及油红O染色,并根据"NAFLD活动度积分"对各组肝组织进行NASH分级评估。结果:高脂饮食大鼠血清中TG、CHO、FPG、FINS的含量显著升高,经计算HOMA-IR指数显著升高;MCD小鼠血清中TG、CHO的含量显著下降,FPG、FINS的含量未发生显著性改变,经计算HOMA-IR指数未发生显著性改变。HE染色、油红O染色及NAFLD活动度积分结果显示,高脂饮食大鼠及MCD小鼠的肝组织均已发展到NASH阶段。结论:两种造模方法均可稳定的模拟人类NASH疾病的血清学及病理学变化,其中高脂饮食诱发的大鼠NASH模型可模拟人类的发病过程及机制,能够复制胰岛素抵抗、氧化应激等人类全身代谢紊乱表现,在NASH研究领域更占优势。     

Proteomic Analysis Reveals that Topoisomerase 2A is Associated with Defective Sperm Head Morphology

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Highlights

• •Human spermatozoa possess cells of poor morphology that lack nuclear integrity.
• •These cells can be isolated by density separation.
• •Mass spectrometry reveals their nuclei contain excess protein.
• •TOP2A is a promising marker of this poor nuclear development.

     

高脂及MCD饮食诱导非酒精性脂肪性肝炎动物模型的比较

目的：对高脂饮食诱发的大鼠NASH模型与蛋氨酸胆碱缺乏饮食诱发的小鼠NASH模型进行血清学及病理学比较,并初步探讨两种模型的发病过程及机制。方法：高脂饮食喂养SD大鼠8周,蛋氨酸胆碱缺乏饮食喂养C57BL/6小鼠2周,以制备NASH模型。取材后,血清用比色法对TG、CHO、FPG的含量进行检测,用放免法对FINS的含量进行检测,并对HOMA-IR指数进行计算;肝组织制成石蜡切片及冰冻切片进行HE及油红O染色,并根据＂NAFLD活动度积分＂对各组肝组织进行NASH分级评估。结果：高脂饮食大鼠血清中TG、CHO、FPG、FINS的含量显著升高,经计算HOMA-IR指数显著升高;MCD小鼠血清中TG、CHO的含量显著下降,FPG、FINS的含量未发生显著性改变,经计算HOMA-IR指数未发生显著性改变。HE染色、油红O染色及NAFLD活动度积分结果显示,高脂饮食大鼠及MCD小鼠的肝组织均已发展到NASH阶段。结论：两种造模方法均可稳定的模拟人类NASH疾病的血清学及病理学变化,其中高脂饮食诱发的大鼠NASH模型可模拟人类的发病过程及机制,能够复制胰岛素抵抗、氧化应激等人类全身代谢紊乱表现,在NASH研究领域更占优势。     

Proteomic Analysis of MG132-Treated Germinating Pollen Reveals Expression Signatures Associated with Proteasome Inhibition

Chemical inhibition of the proteasome has been previously found to effectively impair pollen germination and tube growth in vitro. However, the mediators of these effects at the molecular level are unknown. By performing 2DE proteomic analysis, 24 differentially expressed protein spots, representing 14 unique candidate proteins, were identified in the pollen of kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa) germinated in the presence of the MG132 proteasome inhibitor. qPCR analysis revealed that 11 of these proteins are not up-regulated at the mRNA level, but are most likely stabilized by proteasome inhibition. These differentially expressed proteins are predicted to function in various pathways including energy and lipid metabolism, cell wall synthesis, protein synthesis/degradation and stress responses. In line with this evidence, the MG132-induced changes in the proteome were accompanied by an increase in ATP and ROS content and by an alteration in fatty acid composition.     

Proteomic Screen of Brain Glycoproteome Reveals Prion Specific Marker of Pathogenesis

Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) are neurodegenerative disorders caused by the presence of an infectious prion protein. The primary site of pathology is the brain characterized by neuroinflammation, astrogliosis, prion fibrils, and vacuolation. The events preceding the observed pathology remain in question. We sought to identify biomarkers in the brain of TSE‐infected and aged‐matched control mice using two‐dimensional fluorescence difference gel electrophoresis (2D‐DIGE). Since the brain proteome is too complex to resolve all proteins using 2D‐DIGE, protein samples are initially filtered through either concanavalin A (ConA) or wheat‐germ agglutinin (WGA) columns. Four differentially abundant proteins are identified through screening of the two different glycoproteomes: Neuronal growth regulator 1 (NEGR1), calponin‐3 (CNN3), peroxiredoxin‐6 (Prdx6), and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). Confirmatory Western blots are performed with samples from TSE‐infected and comparative Alzheimer's disease (AD) affected brains and their respective controls from time points throughout the disease courses. The abundance of three of the four proteins increases significantly during later stages of prion disease whereas NEGR1 decreases in abundance. Comparatively, no significant changes are observed in later stages of AD. Our lab is the first to associate the glycosylated NEGR1 protein with prion disease pathology.     

Methionine and Serine Synergistically Suppress Hyperhomocysteinemia Induced by Choline Deficiency,but Not by Guanidinoacetic Acid,in Rats Fed a Low Casein Diet

The effects of dietary supplementation with 0.5% methionine, 2.5% serine, or both on hyperhomocysteinemia induced by deprivation of dietary choline or by dietary addition of 0.5% guanidinoacetic acid (GAA) were investigated in rats fed a 10% casein diet. Hyperhomocysteinemia induced by choline deprivation was not suppressed by methionine alone and was only partially suppressed by serine alone, whereas it was completely suppressed by a combination of methionine and serine, suggesting a synergistic effect of methionine and serine. Fatty liver was also completely prevented by the combination of methionine and serine. Compared with methionine alone, the combination of methionine and serine decreased hepatic S-adenosylhomocysteine and homocysteine concentrations and increased hepatic betaine and serine concentrations and betaine-homocysteine S-methyltransferase activity. GAA-induced hyperhomocysteinemia was partially suppressed by methionine alone, but no interacting effect of methionine and serine was detected. In contrast, GAA-induced fatty liver was completely prevented by the combination of methionine and serine. These results indicate that a combination of methionine and serine is effective in suppressing both hyperhomocysteinemia and fatty liver induced by choline deprivation, and that methionine alone is effective in suppressing GAA-induced hyperhomocysteinemia partially.     

Specific Contribution of Methionine and Choline in Nutritional Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis: IMPACT ON MITOCHONDRIAL S-ADENOSYL-l-METHIONINE AND GLUTATHIONE*

The pathogenesis and treatment of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) are not well established. Feeding a diet deficient in both methionine and choline (MCD) is one of the most common models of NASH, which is characterized by steatosis, mitochondrial dysfunction, hepatocellular injury, oxidative stress, inflammation, and fibrosis. However, the individual contribution of the lack of methionine and choline in liver steatosis, advanced pathology and impact on mitochondrial S-adenosyl-l-methionine (SAM) and glutathione (GSH), known regulators of disease progression, has not been specifically addressed. Here, we examined the regulation of mitochondrial SAM and GSH and signs of disease in mice fed a MCD, methionine-deficient (MD), or choline-deficient (CD) diet. The MD diet reproduced most of the deleterious effects of MCD feeding, including weight loss, hepatocellular injury, oxidative stress, inflammation, and fibrosis, whereas CD feeding was mainly responsible for steatosis, characterized by triglycerides and free fatty acids accumulation. These findings were preceded by MCD- or MD-mediated SAM and GSH depletion in mitochondria due to decreased mitochondrial membrane fluidity associated with a lower phosphatidylcholine/phosphatidylethanolamine ratio. MCD and MD but not CD feeding resulted in increased ceramide levels by acid sphingomyelinase. Moreover, GSH ethyl ester or SAM therapy restored mitochondrial GSH and ameliorated hepatocellular injury in mice fed a MCD or MD diet. Thus, the depletion of SAM and GSH in mitochondria is an early event in the MCD model of NASH, which is determined by the lack of methionine. Moreover, therapy using permeable GSH prodrugs may be of relevance in NASH.     

Smad3基因剔除致骨关节炎小鼠血清蛋白质组双向凝胶电泳分析

Smad3基因剔除导致小鼠骨关节炎,为了进一步深入研究Smad3基因缺失导致骨关节炎形成的分子机制,寻找骨关节炎发生早期的分子变化,用双向电泳技术结合肽质量指纹谱技术对Smad3基因剔除小鼠和野生型小鼠血清蛋白质组进行了初步分析,对其中7个表达差异蛋白质进行了鉴定,并探讨了所鉴定蛋白质与骨关节炎发生的关系,为揭示SMAD3介导的TGF－β信号在骨骼发育中的重要作用提供了线索。     

Proteomics Reveals New Salt Responsive Proteins Associated with Rice Plasma Membrane

The signaling processes in plants that initiate cellular responses to biotic and abiotic factors are believed to be located in the plasma membrane (PM). A better understanding of the PM proteome response to environmental stresses might lead to new strategies for improving stress-tolerant crops. A sub-cellular proteomics approach was applied to monitor changes in abundance of PM-associated protein in response to salinity, a key abiotic stress affecting rice productivity worldwide. Proteome was extracted from a root plasma-membrane-rich fraction of a rice salt tolerant variety, IR651, grown under saline and normal conditions. Comparative two-dimensional electrophoresis revealed that 24 proteins were differentially expressed in response to salt stress. From these, eight proteins were identified by mass spectrometry analysis. Most of the proteins identified are likely to be PM-associated and are known to be involved in several important mechanisms of plant adaptation to salt stress. These include regulation of PM pumps and channels, membrane structure, oxidative stress defense, signal transduction, protein folding, and the methyl cycle. To investigate the correlation between mRNA and protein level in response to salinity, we performed quantitative Real-Time PCR analysis of three genes that were salt responsive at the protein level, including 1,4-Benzoquinone reductase, a putative remorin and a hypersensitive induced response protein. No concordance was detected between the changes in levels of gene and protein expression. Our results indicate that the proteomics approach is suitable for expression analysis of membrane associated proteins under salt stress.     

Proteomic Analysis of Pure Human Airway Gland Mucus Reveals a Large Component of Protective Proteins

Airway submucosal glands contribute to innate immunity and protect the lungs by secreting mucus, which is required for mucociliary clearance and which also contains antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anti-proteolytic and anti-oxidant proteins. We stimulated glands in tracheal trimmings from three lung donors and collected droplets of uncontaminated mucus as they formed at the gland orifices under an oil layer. We analyzed the mucus using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Analysis identified 5486 peptides and 441 proteins from across the 3 samples (269–319 proteins per subject). We focused on 269 proteins common to at least 2 0f 3 subjects, of which 102 (38%) had protective or innate immunity functions. While many of these have long been known to play such roles, for many others their cellular protective functions have only recently been appreciated in addition to their well-studied biologic functions (e.g. annexins, apolipoproteins, gelsolin, hemoglobin, histones, keratins, and lumican). A minority of the identified proteins are known to be secreted via conventional exocytosis, suggesting that glandular secretion occurs via multiple mechanisms. Two of the observed protective proteins, major vault protein and prohibitin, have not been observed in fluid from human epithelial cultures or in fluid from nasal or bronchoalveolar lavage. Further proteomic analysis of pure gland mucus may help clarify how healthy airways maintain a sterile environment.     

桂皮醛对高脂喂养小鼠糖脂代谢影响的实验研究

目的：探讨口服桂皮醛对高脂喂养小鼠（C57BL/6J 背景）糖脂代谢的影响。方法：采用雄性C57BL/6J小鼠作为研究对象,分 正常对照组（6 只）,高脂组（6 只）,高脂+ 桂皮醛（40 mg/kg,每天1 次）干预组（6 只）。桂皮醛以0.5 %羧甲基纤维素钠（CMC-Na） 溶解后口服灌胃,每天1 次;正常对照组和高脂组给予灌服等体积的CMC-Na,每天1 次,干预时间为3 月。每周观察体重、空腹血 糖,实验结束后观察胰岛素耐量（IPITT）、葡萄糖耐量（IPGTT）,观察各组小鼠的血脂水平（TC,TG,LDL-C,HDL-C）、胰岛素水 平、肠系膜脂肪重量及以HE 染色观察脂肪细胞形态。结果：在脂代谢方面,桂皮醛干预可显著防止高脂喂养小鼠的体重和血脂水 平的升高;高脂喂养小鼠肠系膜脂肪重量显著增加,HE 染色提示脂肪细胞显著增大;桂皮醛可显著防止肠系膜脂肪重量的增加 及脂肪细胞的变大。而在葡萄糖代谢方面,桂皮醛可显著降低高脂喂养小鼠血糖和胰岛素水平,改善小鼠的葡萄糖耐量和胰岛素 敏感性。结论：口服桂皮醛可显著改善高脂喂养小鼠的糖、脂代谢。