Inhibition of EGFR attenuates fibrosis and stellate cell activation in diet-induced model of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common cause of chronic liver disease. NAFLD begins with steatosis and advances to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and cirrhosis. The molecular mechanisms involved in NAFLD progression are not understood. Based on recent studies showing dysregulation of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in animal models of liver injury, we sought to determine if inhibition of EGFR mitigates liver fibrosis and HSC activation in NAFLD. We utilized the high fat diet (HFD)-induced murine model of liver injury to study the role of EGFR in NAFLD. The lipid accumulation, oxidative stress, hepatic stellate cell (HSC) activation and matrix deposition were examined in the liver tissues. We also evaluated the EGFR signaling pathway, ROS activation and pro-fibrogenic phenotype in oxidized low density lipoproteins (ox-LDL) challenged cultured HSCs. We demonstrate that EGFR was phosphorylated in liver tissues of HFD murine model of NAFLD. Inhibition of EGFR prevented diet-induced lipid accumulation, oxidative stress, and HSC activation and matrix deposition. In cultured HSCs, we show that ox-LDL caused rapid activation of the EGFR signaling pathway and induce the production of reactive oxygen species. EGFR also mediated HSC activation and promoted a pro-fibrogenic phenotype. In conclusion, our data demonstrate that EGFR plays an important role in NAFLD and is an attractive target for NAFLD therapy.     

Long periodicity phase in extracted lipids of vernix caseosa obtained with equilibration at physiological temperature

The outermost layer of the skin, the stratum corneum (SC), comprises the main barrier function between body and environment. The SC features a highly structured lipid organization: a short periodicity phase and a long periodicity phase (LPP) with a repeat distance of 6 and 13 nm, respectively. Like SC, vernix caseosa (VC), the creamy white skin-surface biofilm of the newborn, also contains barrier lipids, i.e. ceramides, cholesterol and free fatty acids. Aim of this study was to investigate whether isolated VC lipids also form the characteristic LPP. Several preparation methods were examined and only when the solution of the lipid mixture, isolated either from VC or SC, was dried under nitrogen at 37 °C and subsequently spread onto a support, the LPP was formed. When VC barrier lipids were first exposed to elevated temperatures and subsequently cooled down, the LPP was formed at around 34 °C, which is at a much lower temperature than observed with the lipids in SC. In conclusion, we showed for the first time that depending on the preparation method, (i) VC lipids also form the LPP and (ii) the LPP in VC lipids and SC lipids was obtained at a low equilibration temperature, mimicking the physiological condition.     

Murein (peptidoglycan) structure, architecture and biosynthesis in Escherichia coli

The periplasmic murein (peptidoglycan) sacculus is a giant macromolecule made of glycan strands cross-linked by short peptides completely surrounding the cytoplasmic membrane to protect the cell from lysis due to its internal osmotic pressure. More than 50 different muropeptides are released from the sacculus by treatment with a muramidase. Escherichia coli has six murein synthases which enlarge the sacculus by transglycosylation and transpeptidation of lipid II precursor. A set of twelve periplasmic murein hydrolases (autolysins) release murein fragments during cell growth and division. Recent data on the in vitro murein synthesis activities of the murein synthases and on the interactions between murein synthases, hydrolases and cell cycle related proteins are being summarized. There are different models for the architecture of murein and for the incorporation of new precursor into the sacculus. We present a model in which morphogenesis of the rod-shaped E. coli is driven by cytoskeleton elements competing for the control over the murein synthesis multi-enzyme complexes.     

肝康Ⅳ号对脂肪肝大鼠肝组织脂质含量及形态学的影响

目的探讨肝康Ⅳ号（Gankang Ⅳ,GKⅣ）对脂肪肝（FL）组织胆固醇（TC）、甘油三脂（TG）、超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）、丙二醛（MDA）及形态学的影响。方法64只SPF级Wistar大鼠,随机分为A组、B1组、B2组、B3组、C组、D组。A组、B1组、B2组、B3组、C组给予高脂饲料（84.4%标准饲料＋10%猪油＋0.5%胆固醇＋0.1%胆盐＋5%蛋黄粉）和白酒复合复制大鼠FL模型,B1组、B2组、B3组、C组分别给予肝康Ⅳ号低、中、高剂量和东宝肝泰灌胃干预,设空白对照D组。第6周末处死动物取肝脏制备10%的肝匀浆检测TC、TG、SOD、MDA。检测肝脏病理学。结果（1）TC、TG：B1组、B2组、B3组、C组与A组比较,TC、TG含量明显下降（P〈0.05～0.01）,B2组、B3组与C组比较差异有显著（P〈0.05）。（2）SOD、MDA：B1组、B2组、B3组、C组与A组比较,MDA含量明显下降（P〈0.05～0.01）,SOD水平明显升高（P〈0.05～0.01）;在SOD方面,B1组与C组比较差异有非常显著性（P〈0.01）,B2组与C组比较差异有显著（P〈0.05）;在MDA方面,B1组、B2组、B3组与C组比较差异有非常显著性（P〈0.01）。（3）肝脏病理学：A组为重度脂肪肝,C组、B1组为中度脂肪肝,B2组、B3组脂肪肝程度轻于C组、B1组。结论GKIV能有效降低肝脏组织脂质沉积,防止MDA的升高,SOD的下降;减轻FL程度,呈现量效关系。     

食物温度对大鼠体重、血糖、血脂及抗氧化作用的影响

目的：观察食物温度对大鼠体重、血糖、血脂及抗氧化作用的影响。方法：将40只Wistar大鼠随机分为4组（A组、B组、C组、D组）,分别喂食不同温度（10～15℃、22～32℃、42～52℃、52～62℃）的食物和饮水,饲养35d后测量体重,测定血糖（G）、总胆固醇（TC）、甘油三脂（TG）,测定血清中超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）活性、谷光甘肽过氧化物酶（GSH-Px）活力及丙二醛（MDA）和蛋白含量。结果：采用不同温度的饮食喂养35d后,各组大鼠的体重、血糖、血脂无显著差异（P〉0．05）;C组大鼠的血浆SOD和GSH-Px活性明显高于A组（P〈0．05）,MDA和蛋白含量显著低于A组（P〈0．05）。结论：不同温度的饮食对代谢的影响不明显．42～52℃饮食组大鼠的生化指标较为稳定,有较强的抗氧化作用,过低温度的饮食使机体处于应急状态。     

The effect of taurine on cholesterol degradation in mice fed a high-cholesterol diet

The hypocholesterolemic effect of taurine was examined in mice fed a high-cholesterol diet containing 1% cholesterol and 0.25% sodium cholate. Male C57BL/6 mice were divided into 3 groups: control group (HC), 1% taurine-supplemented group (HCT+), and taurine-deficient group (HCT-) produced by supplying 0.5% guanidinoethyl sulfonate (GES) solution ad libitum instead of water. After they were fed with the respective diet or drinking water for 4 weeks, the liver taurine level was reduced 80% in the HCT- group compared with that in the HC group, although there was no difference in the serum taurine amount between the two groups. The formation ratio of cholesterol gallstones increased from 71% to 100% by taurine deficiency, and decreased to 0% by taurine supplementation. Compared with the HC group, serum and liver cholesterol significantly decreased, and the excretion of fecal bile acid notably rose in the HCT+ group but tended to lower in the HCT- group. There were no differences in LDL receptor protein level among the three groups. In the subsequent experiment, triglycerides (TG) secretion rate was determined and found to be significantly suppressed by taurine supplementation. In conclusion, it is suggested that taurine does not up-regulate LDL receptor protein level, and the decrease in cholesterol in the circulation is mainly due to its suppressive effect on TG secretion from the liver.     

血清ApoB/ApoA1比值、TG/HDL-C比值、LDH及ALP水平与冠心病患者冠状动脉病变严重程度的关系及其预测价值分析

摘要 目的：探讨血清载脂蛋白B（ApoB）/载脂蛋白A1（ApoA1）比值、三酰甘油（TG）/高密度脂蛋白胆固醇（HDL-C）比值、乳酸脱氢酶（LDH）及碱性磷酸酶（ALP）水平与冠心病（CHD）患者冠状动脉病变严重程度的关系及其预测价值。方法：选取2019年1月-2021年12月因胸痛来我院检查并收治的185例患者,根据检查结果是否为CHD分为CHD组（120例）和对照组（65例）,根据Gensini评分将CHD组分为轻度狭窄亚组36例、中度狭窄亚组55例、重度狭窄亚组29例。入院后检测血清ApoB/ApoA1比值、TG/HDL-C比值、LDH及ALP水平。采用Spearman相关系数分析CHD患者血清ApoB/ApoA1比值、TG/HDL-C比值、LDH、ALP水平与Gensini评分的相关性,采用多因素Logistic回归分析CHD的影响因素;受试者工作特征（ROC）曲线分析血清ApoB/ApoA1比值、TG/HDL-C比值、LDH及ALP水平对CHD的预测价值。结果：与对照组比较,CHD组吸烟、饮酒、高血压、糖尿病比例和血清总胆固醇（TC）、TG、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇（LDL-C）、ApoB、ApoB/ApoA1比值、TG/HDL-C比值、LDH、ALP水平升高,HDL-C、ApoA1水平降低（P＜0.05）。轻度、中度、重度狭窄亚组血清ApoB/ApoA1比值、TG/HDL-C比值、LDH及ALP水平依次升高（P＜0.05）。CHD患者血清ApoB/ApoA1比值、TG/HDL-C比值、LDH、ALP水平与Gensini评分呈正相关（P均＜0.001）。多因素Logistic回归分析显示,高血压、血清ApoB/ApoA1比值、TG/HDL-C比值、LDH、ALP水平升高为CHD的独立危险因素（P＜0.05）。ROC曲线分析显示,血清ApoB/ApoA1比值、TG/HDL-C比值、LDH及ALP水平联合预测CHD的曲线下面积大于单独预测（P＜0.05）。结论：血清ApoB/ApoA1比值、TG/HDL-C比值、LDH、ALP水平与CHD患者冠状动脉病变严重程度有关,且联合预测CHD的价值较高。     

1914G variant of BCHE gene associated with enzyme activity,obesity and triglyceride levels

Polymorphisms of butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) have been reported to be associated to weight, BMI variance and hypertriglyceridemia in adults and adolescents. The aim of the present study was to investigate the association of −116A (SNP: G/A; rs1126680) and 1914G (SNP: A/G; rs3495) variants of BCHE gene with anthropometric and biochemical variables associated with obesity in population sample of 115 individuals, from Southern Brazil. Participants were grouped in two categories: obese (BMI ≥ 30) and non-obese (BMI < 30). The 1914G allele showed significantly higher frequency in the obese group, and carriers of 1914G allele showed lower mean BChE activity when compared to 1914A carriers (p = 0.006). Higher means of BMI (p = 0.02) and triglyceride (TG; p = 0.01) were found in 1914G carriers (BMI = 27.57kg/m²; TG = 150.8 mg/dL) when compared to 1914A homozygotes (BMI = 25.55 kg/m²; TG = 107.9 mg/dL). Carriers of the −116A allele showed lower mean BChE activity than usual homozygotes, and the −116A variant was found in cis with 1914G (p < 0.0001; D′ = 1). The region of BCHE gene that contains the 1914G mutation site is target of microRNAs (miRs) and the response of BChE to glucocorticoids is especially influenced by these miRs. Therefore, it is possible that the 1914G allele can be interfering in gluconeogenesis, hyperglycemia, lipolysis and body fat distribution. This lower activity may cause an imbalance in lipid metabolism, which may lead to an increased predisposition to obesity and to a lower ability to maintain metabolic homeostasis.     

Spatial arrangement of proteins using scCro-tag: application for an in situ enzymatic microbead assay

ABSTRACT

In natural systems, various metabolic reactions are often spatially organized to increase enzyme activity and specificity. Thus, by spatially arranging enzyme molecules in synthetic systems to imitate these natural systems, it is possible to promote a high rate of enzymatic turnover. In this present study, a normal and mutant form of the scCro DNA-binding protein were shown to bind orthogonally to specific recognition sequences under appropriate conditions. Furthermore, these DNA-binding tags were used to establish an enzyme assay system based on the spatial arrangement of transglutaminase and its substrate at the molecular level. Together, the results of the present study suggest that the scCro-tag may be a powerful tool to facilitate the synthetic spatial arrangement of proteins on a DNA ligand.