Journal of Bioenergetics and Biomembranes最新文献

Metabolic associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is a highly prevalent global chronic liver disease. While abnormal expression of RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) has been implicated in MAFLD, their functional roles-particularly in regulating alternative splicing (AS)-remain poorly characterized. This study aimed to investigate the abnormal expression and regulatory mechanism of RBPs in MAFLD. The source data were obtained from the GSE130970 dataset of the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Then, we utilized differential expression analysis to acquire the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between different stages of MAFLD patients and normal patients. Alternative splicing analysis was performed via the ABLas pipeline to explore the alternative splicing events that may enhance and regulate the development of MAFLD. The Gene Ontology (GO) terms and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis were utilized via KOBAS2.0. Finally, quantitative real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-qPCR) and Western blotting analysis were performed to confirm the expression of significant RBPs. We observed a significant increase in the number of DEGs as the stages of MAFLD progressed. Furthermore, co-expression analysis suggested that abnormally expressed RBPs such as S100A4, CYCS, and JUN might participate in MAFLD development by potentially influencing the AS of downstream metabolism-related genes such as FAT1, SLCO2B1, and C4BPB. Moreover, we confirmed that the expression of the three RBPs (S100A4, CYCS and JUN) is significantly up-regulated in the liver through validation experiments. The abnormal up-regulated expression of RBPs (S100A4, CYCS and JUN) might contribute to the progression of MAFLD and hence they can be further regarded as potential therapeutic targets for MAFLD.

Liver diseases poses a significant global health burden. This study investigated the hepatoprotective effects of fisetinidin chloride (FC), a natural flavonoid, against carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄)-induced hepatotoxicity in HepaRG cells, a model mimicking human hepatocyte responses. Co-treatment with FC restored cell viability and reduced cellular steatosis, and minimized lactate dehydrogenase leakage, demonstrating membrane stabilization. FC mitigated oxidative stress by reducing mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) and lipid peroxidation, while enhancing antioxidant defenses through upregulating mitochondrial superoxide dismutase and glutathione. FC preserved mitochondrial function, as evidenced by restored mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm), and modulated apoptosis by upregulating anti-apoptotic BCL2 mRNA and downregulating pro-apoptotic BAX and caspase-3. Flow cytometry analysis confirmed FC's anti-apoptotic effects, reducing apoptotic cell populations. Additionally, FC attenuated CCl₄-induced elevations in aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase, markers of hepatocellular injury. Treatment with FC significantly upregulated choline, citric acid, cis-aconitic acid, L-carnitine, L-tryptophan, and gamma-Linolenic acid in CCl₄-induced cells. Conversely, it significantly downregulated glutamate, xanthine, indole acetic acid, succinic acid, hypotaurine, and other metabolites. Pathway enrichment and network analysis of the metabolome demonstrated that FC's protective effects were mediated through the modulation of mitochondrial energy metabolism. Collectively, these findings highlight FC's multifaceted hepatoprotective effects, including attenuation of cellular steatosis, ROS scavenging, mitochondrial stabilization, and apoptosis inhibition. This study underscores FC's potential as a therapeutic candidate worthy of further mechanistic studies, bridging in vitro efficacy with clinical relevance. Further in vivo studies are warranted to validate its pharmacokinetics and translational potential.

Heart failure represents the culmination of various cardiovascular diseases, distinguished by a spectrum of complex symptoms. Astragaloside IV (AST-IV) has shown significant cardiac protection in heart failure rats, though the mechanisms are not fully understood. This study aimed to investigate the effects of AST-IV using hypoxia-reoxygenation injury in cardiomyocytes and heart failure in rats to explore the effects of AST-IV. Experimental groups were treated with AST-IV, HIF-2α siRNA, or Y-27,632 (a ROCK inhibitor). Cell proliferation was assessed using CCK-8 and EdU assays, while mitochondrial membrane potential and apoptosis were evaluated using JC-1 fluorescent probes and TUNEL staining, respectively. Additionally, flow cytometry measured reactive oxygen species and apoptosis rates, with protein expressions of HIF-2α, RhoB, and ROCK determined via western blotting. Cardiac troponin I and caspase-3 levels were quantified using ELISA, and myocardial injury was examined through H&E and Masson staining. Results demonstrated that AST-IV notably increased HIF-2α and Rho/ROCK pathway protein expressions, enhancing cell proliferation, reducing apoptosis and ROS levels, but effects were partially reversible by Y-27,632 in vitro. Our findings suggest that AST-IV mitigates hypoxia-induced cardiomyocyte damage by modulating the HIF/Rho/ROCK pathway, indicating its potential as a therapeutic agent for heart failure.

According to reports, Rab3A plays a kay role in various diseases. The regulatory role of Rab3A in hair cell damage and age-related hearing loss has not been explored. HEI-OC-1 cells were treated with hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) to construct a damage model. The cell viability and apoptosis were detected by CCK-8 assay and flow cytometry. Immunofluorescence and flow cytometry were used to measure mitochondrial membrane potential. The contents of oxidative stress-related indicators and mitochondrial function-related indicators were detected by kits. Dual luciferase assay was used to determine the regulatory relationship between Rab3A and ITGA3. The results showed that H₂O₂ treatment reduced the level of Rab3A in HEI-OC-1 cells in a time-dependent manner. Rab3A increased the cell viability of H₂O₂-induced inner ear cells and inhibited cell apoptosis. Additionally, Rab3A inhibited H₂O₂-induced oxidative stress and alleviated mitochondrial dysfunction in HEI-OC-1 cells. Rab3A also directly targeted and positively regulated ITGA3 expression. Further studies found that silencing of ITGA3 reversed the inhibitory effects of Rab3A on inner ear cell damage and mitochondrial dysfunction. In conclusion, Rab3A regulates H₂O₂-induced inner ear hair cell damage and mitochondrial dysfunction by stabilizing the expression of ITGA3.

Renal ischemia/reperfusion injury (RIRI), a common complication of renal transplantation, partial nephrectomy, and transient hypoperfusion, is a major etiological factor of acute kidney injury (AKI) with limited treatment options. Total flavonoids from Desmodium styracifolium (TFDS), a traditional Chinese medicinal herb used in urinary disorders, have shown promising renoprotective properties. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of TFDS against RIRI and elucidate its underlying mechanisms, with a particular focus on oxidative stress and ferroptosis. A RIRI model was established in C57BL/6J mice, and the effects of TFDS were evaluated in both in vivo and in vitro hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) models. Evaluation of renal function was performed by measuring serum blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine levels. Histopathological and ultrastructural alterations were examined using hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) staining and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Oxidative stress and ferroptosis were evaluated by determining glutathione (GSH) levels, malondialdehyde (MDA) content, reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, and iron accumulation. Potential therapeutic targets and pathways were predicted by network pharmacology and further validated through Western blot (WB) and immunofluorescence analyses. In vivo, TFDS administration markedly improved renal function in RIRI mice, as evidenced by significant reductions in serum BUN and creatinine levels, and attenuated histopathological damage, including tubular epithelial cell loss and mitochondrial structural disruption. TFDS also decreased tissue iron and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels while restoring GSH content, thereby alleviating oxidative stress and ferroptosis. In vitro, TFDS enhanced HK-2 cell viability after hypoxia/reoxygenation injury, reduced intracellular ROS, iron, and MDA accumulation, and preserved mitochondrial morphology. Network pharmacology and molecular docking identified TP53 as a central target, with vicenin-2, schaftoside, and isovitexin exhibiting strong binding affinity to P53. Mechanistically, TFDS downregulated P53 expression and upregulated SLC7A11 and GPX4 both in vivo and in vitro, effects that were abolished by the P53 agonist Kevetrin, confirming the involvement of the P53/SLC7A11/GPX4 axis in TFDS-mediated ferroptosis suppression. TFDS alleviates kidney injury following RIRI by attenuating oxidative stress and suppressing ferroptosis, effects mediated at least in part through modulation of the P53/SLC7A11/GPX4 signaling axis. These findings identify TFDS as a promising therapeutic candidate for ischemic kidney injury and provide mechanistic insight supporting its potential clinical application.

The cardioprotective effects of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) have attracted significant attention. The calcium ion signaling pathway influences various aspects of cellular function, store-operated calcium channels (SOCCs) serve as key calcium ion channels that induce cell apoptosis and exacerbate cardiac remodeling. This study aims to investigate the effects of SGLT2i on SOCCs and its potential cardioprotective mechanisms. Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were sequentially treated with angiotensin II (Ang II) and dapagliflozin (Dapa), randomly divided into four groups: Sham, Dapa, Ang II, and Ang II + Dapa. Blood pressure, cardiac structure and function were measured. Cardiac fibrosis evaluated using Masson's trichrome staining. The apoptosis rate of H9C2 cells was determined by flow cytometry. Protein expression levels and functional activity of SOCCs were analyzed using Western blotting, calcium imaging, and fluorescence co-localization staining. In Ang II-induced hypertension rats, no significant blood pressure lowering effect of Dapa was observed within 28 days. Notably, the absence of blood pressure reduction did not affect the timely improvement of Ang II-induced cardiac remodeling by Dapa. Ang II enhanced store-operated calcium entry (SOCE), subsequently promoting cardiomyocyte apoptosis. Dapa administration effectively suppressed this pathological process by inhibiting the overexpression and overactivation of SOCC. SGLT2i improved early cardiac remodeling induced by Ang II without relying on antihypertensive effects, mainly by inhibiting excessive activation of SOCE, which effectively attenuated Ang II-triggered cardiomyocyte apoptosis. This provides a novel therapeutic paradigm targeting impaired myocardial calcium handling in hypertensive heart disease management.

Acute myeloid leukemia is a life-threaten disease. Researches have indicated that increased expression of TKT was closely related to the progression of malignant tumors. However, the mechanism of TKT in the pathogenesis of AML need to be further elucidated. Here, we showed that the expression levels of TKT was increased in AML patients and AML cells. TKT overexpression in AML cells significantly promoted the proliferation, migration and invasion of cells while TKT knockdown had opposite effects. Mechanistically. We proved that TKT was located on up-stream of RBKS and TKT promoted the growth of AML cells through RBKS. In addition, our data indicated that TKT regulates the pentose phosphate pathway via RBKS. Notably, we demonstrated that the pentose phosphate pathway is crucial for EMT program in AML cells. Taken together, this study identified the molecular mechanism by which TKT promotes AML progression, namely, TKT promotes EMT by regulating the pentose phosphate pathway through RBKS. Our results suggest that TKT maybe a novel therapeutic target for AML treatment.

Pholiota adiposa is a traditional Chinese medicine "Huangsan". Huangsan is rich in proteins, polysaccharides, which has been documented to be used in the treatment of cancer. However, the pharmacological mechanism of Huangsan in the treatment of cancer remains unclear. This research examined the anticancer mechanisms of the ethanol extract of P. adiposa (EPA) in hepatoma-bearing mice via metabolomic analysis. Male ICR mice were randomly assigned to the control (CG), model (MG), positive (25 mg/kg/day cyclophosphamide; PG), low-level EPA (LG, 100 mg/kg/day), and high-level EPA (HG, 300 mg/kg/day) groups. Various biochemical indicators were assessed via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, TdT-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling assay, and hematoxylin and eosin staining. Western blot was utilized to assess tumor apoptosis-related caspase-3, cleaved caspase-3, Bcl-2, Bcl-2-associated X, and vascular endothelial growth factor. Ultra-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry and chemometric approaches were applied to determine serum metabolomics. EPA substantially impacted tumor growth in vivo without causing adverse reactions, indicating liver and kidney protection. EPA significantly increased the levels of glutamine, leucine, histidine, citrulline, creatine, prostaglandin A2, and prostaglandin D2 while decreasing levels of arachidonic acid, 20-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid, thromboxane B2, and pyruvate. These changes reflected a reduction in protein digestion and absorption, alterations in γ-aminobutyric acid metabolism, and shifts in amino acid metabolism, particularly affecting arachidonic acid, arginine, and proline. EPA exerted significant anticancer effects in mice mainly by reducing the compensatory energy supply from branched-chain amino acids, regulating amino acid metabolism, inhibiting negative nitrogen balance, enhancing immune responses, inhibiting inflammatory mediators, and promoting tumor cell apoptosis in the tumor microenvironment.

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a life-threatening vascular disease characterized by aortic wall degeneration and inflammation. The molecular mechanisms underlying AAA development remain unclear. Wilms tumor 1-associated protein (WTAP) has been implicated in various biological processes, but its role in AAA pathogenesis, particularly in cardiomyocyte regulation, has not been fully explored. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was performed to detect the mRNA levels of WTAP and proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9). Western blotting assay was used to analyze protein expression. Cell viability, proliferation, senescence, apoptosis, ferroptosis, and inflammation were assessed using cell counting kit-8 assay, 5-Ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine assay, SA-β-gal staining, flow cytometry, fluorometric assay, colorimetric method, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The association among PCSK9, WTAP, and IGF2BP2 was analyzed using RNA immunoprecipitation assay and dual-luciferase reporter assay. WTAP expression was upregulated in AAA and angiotensin II (Ang II)-induced human aortic smooth muscle cells (HASMCs). Ang II treatment inhibited HASMC proliferation and induced senescence, apoptosis, ferroptosis, and NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated inflammation. However, these effects were mitigated by WTAP knockdown. In addition, PCSK9 expression was increased in AAA, and WTAP stabilized PCSK9 mRNA expression in an IGF2BP2-dependent manner. Moreover, WTAP overexpression promoted senescence, apoptosis, ferroptosis, and inflammation by regulating PCSK9 in Ang II-induced HASMCs. WTAP silencing protected HASMCs from Ang II-induced senescence, apoptosis, ferroptosis, and inflammation by regulating PCSK9, suggesting a potential therapeutic target for AAA treatment.

Retinoblastoma (RB) is a malignant neoplasm originating from photoreceptor precursor cells that is common in children under 3 years of age. NOP2/Sun RNA methyltransferase family member 2 (NSUN2) is a major methyltransferase that catalyzes mammalian mRNA 5-methylcytosine (m5C) modification and has been implicated in a variety of diseases, but its mechanism in RB is still incomplete. NSUN2 was up-regulated in RB and was associated with the poor survival of patients. Silencing NSUN2 blocked the malignant behaviors of RB cells. In Y79 cells, the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) after knocking down NSUN2 were mainly concentrated in the glycolytic pathway from the GSE214685 dataset, and NSUN2 down-regulation restrained the glycolysis of RB cells. What's more, the m5C modification and mRNA stability of hexokinase domain component 1 (HKDC1) were mediated by NSUN2 and Y-box binding protein 1 (YBX1). Mechanically, NSUN2 promoted RB malignant behaviors and glycolysis in vitro via HKDC1 and accelerated tumor growth in vivo. Our study put forward a new mechanism to regulate RB progression, namely, NSUN2 and YBX1 synergistically promote malignant progression and glycolysis of RB by mediating HKDC1 m5C modification.