Pub Date : 2025-05-24DOI: 10.1016/j.peptides.2025.171416
Mohamed Badie Ahmed , Abdella M. Habib , Saif Badran , Abeer Alsherawi , Asma Syed , Hoda Khoogaly , Atalla Hammouda , Abdul-Badi Abou-Samra , Suhail A. Doi
The rising prevalence of obesity poses a critical threat to global health, prompting an urgent need for a comprehensive understanding of its underlying mechanisms. This study aimed to delve into the relationship between obesity, leptin sensitivity, and gut hormones, focusing on spexin, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), and gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP). We examined patients undergoing body contouring surgeries to assess how these hormones and leptin interact. Blood samples were collected at three different time points, and hormone levels were analyzed. Our findings indicated that increases in GLP-1 and decreases in GIP correlated with improved leptin sensitivity, indicated by decreased plasma leptin levels and associated with increase in steepness of the plasma leptin-spexin slope. These results suggest that spexin may serve as a biomarker for leptin sensitivity, the latter influenced by gut hormones in obese individuals. The study provides further evidence that the modulation of leptin sensitivity by gut hormones could be key in addressing obesity and its metabolic consequences.
{"title":"Spexin is a biomarker of the process that regulates leptin sensitivity","authors":"Mohamed Badie Ahmed , Abdella M. Habib , Saif Badran , Abeer Alsherawi , Asma Syed , Hoda Khoogaly , Atalla Hammouda , Abdul-Badi Abou-Samra , Suhail A. Doi","doi":"10.1016/j.peptides.2025.171416","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.peptides.2025.171416","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The rising prevalence of obesity poses a critical threat to global health, prompting an urgent need for a comprehensive understanding of its underlying mechanisms. This study aimed to delve into the relationship between obesity, leptin sensitivity, and gut hormones, focusing on spexin, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), and gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP). We examined patients undergoing body contouring surgeries to assess how these hormones and leptin interact. Blood samples were collected at three different time points, and hormone levels were analyzed. Our findings indicated that increases in GLP-1 and decreases in GIP correlated with improved leptin sensitivity, indicated by decreased plasma leptin levels and associated with increase in steepness of the plasma leptin-spexin slope. These results suggest that spexin may serve as a biomarker for leptin sensitivity, the latter influenced by gut hormones in obese individuals. The study provides further evidence that the modulation of leptin sensitivity by gut hormones could be key in addressing obesity and its metabolic consequences.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19765,"journal":{"name":"Peptides","volume":"190 ","pages":"Article 171416"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-05-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144151405","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-05-23DOI: 10.1016/j.peptides.2025.171410
Camilla L. Asferg , Ulrik B. Andersen , Jørgen L. Jeppesen
The introduction of liver-targeted antisense oligonucleotides and small interfering ribonucleic acids that inhibit hepatic angiotensinogen synthesis has led to renewed interest in the role of angiotensinogen in hypertension. Therefore, we decided to do further angiotensinogen analyses in a hypertension research program, where we found that obese hypertensive men, given their high salt intake and high 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure (ABP), had higher than expected renin-angiotensin-system (RAS) activity. In a cross-sectional study, we examined 64 newly diagnosed treatment-naïve obese hypertension men (body mass index (BMI) ≥ 30 kg/m2, 24-hour systolic ABP ≥ 130 mm Hg and/or 24-hour diastolic ABP ≥ 80 mm Hg), and 40 obese normotensive men (BMI ≥30 mg/m2, 24-hour systolic ABP <130 and 24-hour diastolic ABP <80 mm Hg). Blood for biochemical evaluation of the RAS was drawn after 60 minutes rest in the supine position. We applied multiple linear regression analysis to explore independent associations. The obese hypertensive men had a higher mean fasting plasma concentration of angiotensinogen than the obese normotensive men (970.4 ± 214.3 nmol/L versus 868.4 ± 173.0 nmol/L, P = 0.013). Adjusted for age and angiotensin II, angiotensinogen was significantly associated with 24-hour systolic ABP (regression coefficient±standard error (mm Hg/100 nmol/L angiotensinogen): 1.8 ± 0.6, P = 0.006), 24-hour diastolic ABP (0.8 ± 0.3, P = 0.021), and 24-hour pulse pressure (1.0 ± 0.4, P = 0.028). Thus, plasma angiotensinogen was associated with higher 24-hour ABPs independently of plasma angiotensin II in obese men. However, further studies are warranted to determine whether angiotensinogen is only a risk marker of high BP or has BP raising effects independent of angiotensin II.
{"title":"Plasma angiotensinogen is associated with higher 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure independently of plasma angiotensin II in obese men","authors":"Camilla L. Asferg , Ulrik B. Andersen , Jørgen L. Jeppesen","doi":"10.1016/j.peptides.2025.171410","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.peptides.2025.171410","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The introduction of liver-targeted antisense oligonucleotides and small interfering ribonucleic acids that inhibit hepatic angiotensinogen synthesis has led to renewed interest in the role of angiotensinogen in hypertension. Therefore, we decided to do further angiotensinogen analyses in a hypertension research program, where we found that obese hypertensive men, given their high salt intake and high 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure (ABP), had higher than expected renin-angiotensin-system (RAS) activity. In a cross-sectional study, we examined 64 newly diagnosed treatment-naïve obese hypertension men (body mass index (BMI) ≥ 30 kg/m<sup>2</sup>, 24-hour systolic ABP ≥ 130 mm Hg and/or 24-hour diastolic ABP ≥ 80 mm Hg), and 40 obese normotensive men (BMI ≥30 mg/m<sup>2</sup>, 24-hour systolic ABP <130 and 24-hour diastolic ABP <80 mm Hg). Blood for biochemical evaluation of the RAS was drawn after 60 minutes rest in the supine position. We applied multiple linear regression analysis to explore independent associations. The obese hypertensive men had a higher mean fasting plasma concentration of angiotensinogen than the obese normotensive men (970.4 ± 214.3 nmol/L versus 868.4 ± 173.0 nmol/L, <em>P</em> = 0.013). Adjusted for age and angiotensin II, angiotensinogen was significantly associated with 24-hour systolic ABP (regression coefficient±standard error (mm Hg/100 nmol/L angiotensinogen): 1.8 ± 0.6, <em>P</em> = 0.006), 24-hour diastolic ABP (0.8 ± 0.3, <em>P</em> = 0.021), and 24-hour pulse pressure (1.0 ± 0.4, <em>P</em> = 0.028). Thus, plasma angiotensinogen was associated with higher 24-hour ABPs independently of plasma angiotensin II in obese men. However, further studies are warranted to determine whether angiotensinogen is only a risk marker of high BP or has BP raising effects independent of angiotensin II.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19765,"journal":{"name":"Peptides","volume":"190 ","pages":"Article 171410"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-05-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144143284","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-05-22DOI: 10.1016/j.peptides.2025.171415
Susanne M. Brunner , Stefanie Gaisbauer , Patrick N. Pallier , Ping K. Yip , Andrea Ramspacher , Julia Leitner , Felix Sternberg , Christina Erhardt-Kreutzer , Theresa Haslauer , Sara Huber , Lara Bieler , Sebastien Couillard-Despres , Barbara Kofler
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is one of the world’s leading causes of death and disability in young individuals and the mechanism underlying TBI-associated neuroinflammation is poorly understood. The regulatory neuropeptide galanin (GAL) and its three receptors (GAL1–3R) are assumed to modulate the neuroinflammatory response following TBI, especially by signalling via GAL2R and GAL3R. Therefore, the role of GALRs in acute neuroinflammation and functional recovery following moderate Controlled Cortical Impact TBI was studied using GAL2/3R-double-KO (GAL2/3R-KO) mice. Brains and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were collected at day 1 and 30 days post TBI. Functional recovery post TBI was assessed by the modified Neurological Severity Score (mNSS), Elevated Plus Maze (EPM) and Morris Water Maze (MWM) test. Post TBI (day 1–28 post injury), neurological dysfunction was more severe in GAL2/3R-KO mice than in WT mice. At 1 day post TBI, inflammatory markers and several nerve growth factors significantly increased in the ipsilateral hemisphere, compared to the contralateral hemisphere in both GAL2/3R-KO and WT mice. At 4 days post surgery, TBI mice entered significantly more frequent the open-arms in the EPM compared to Sham-operated mice, suggestive of increased exploratory behaviour in TBI mice. At 30 days post TBI, immunostaining of brain sections revealed significant differences in vascularisation and glial scarring in the cortex when comparing TBI and Sham-operated mice, but genotypes were similar. In summary, the results indicate that GAL2R and/or GAL3R have a neuroprotective role following moderate TBI, as the severity was significantly lower in their presence than in their absence.
{"title":"Impact of galanin receptors 2 and 3 double-knockout on neuroinflammation and functional recovery following traumatic brain injury","authors":"Susanne M. Brunner , Stefanie Gaisbauer , Patrick N. Pallier , Ping K. Yip , Andrea Ramspacher , Julia Leitner , Felix Sternberg , Christina Erhardt-Kreutzer , Theresa Haslauer , Sara Huber , Lara Bieler , Sebastien Couillard-Despres , Barbara Kofler","doi":"10.1016/j.peptides.2025.171415","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.peptides.2025.171415","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is one of the world’s leading causes of death and disability in young individuals and the mechanism underlying TBI-associated neuroinflammation is poorly understood. The regulatory neuropeptide galanin (GAL) and its three receptors (GAL<sub>1–3</sub>R) are assumed to modulate the neuroinflammatory response following TBI, especially by signalling via GAL<sub>2</sub>R and GAL<sub>3</sub>R. Therefore, the role of GALRs in acute neuroinflammation and functional recovery following moderate Controlled Cortical Impact TBI was studied using GAL<sub>2/3</sub>R-double-KO (GAL<sub>2/3</sub>R-KO) mice. Brains and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were collected at day 1 and 30 days post TBI. Functional recovery post TBI was assessed by the modified Neurological Severity Score (mNSS), Elevated Plus Maze (EPM) and Morris Water Maze (MWM) test. Post TBI (day 1–28 post injury), neurological dysfunction was more severe in GAL<sub>2/3</sub>R-KO mice than in WT mice. At 1 day post TBI, inflammatory markers and several nerve growth factors significantly increased in the ipsilateral hemisphere, compared to the contralateral hemisphere in both GAL<sub>2/3</sub>R-KO and WT mice. At 4 days post surgery, TBI mice entered significantly more frequent the open-arms in the EPM compared to Sham-operated mice, suggestive of increased exploratory behaviour in TBI mice. At 30 days post TBI, immunostaining of brain sections revealed significant differences in vascularisation and glial scarring in the cortex when comparing TBI and Sham-operated mice, but genotypes were similar. In summary, the results indicate that GAL<sub>2</sub>R and/or GAL<sub>3</sub>R have a neuroprotective role following moderate TBI, as the severity was significantly lower in their presence than in their absence.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19765,"journal":{"name":"Peptides","volume":"191 ","pages":"Article 171415"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-05-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144143283","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-05-21DOI: 10.1016/j.peptides.2025.171411
Zhuangzhi Xiong , Xiaoqin Zhou , Yufeng Li , Liu Yang
Sepsis-induced acute lung injury (ALI) represents a severe pathological state marked by uncontrolled inflammation, redox imbalance, and alveolar-capillary barrier breakdown. Here, we evaluated the therapeutic potential of pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) in a murine sepsis-ALI model. PACAP treatment notably ameliorated histological damage, reduced oxidative stress biomarkers, and mitigated inflammatory processes, including neutrophil accumulation and pro-inflammatory cytokine release. Molecular analysis revealed PACAP-mediated downregulation of Aquaporin-1 (AQP1) and specificity protein 1 (Sp1), key regulators of alveolar fluid homeostasis and inflammatory signaling. Genetic Sp1 overexpression abrogated PACAP-induced AQP1 suppression, validating the Sp1/AQP1 signaling pathway as a critical mediator of PACAP’s protective effects. Additionally, in vitro MTT assays on RAW 264.7 macrophages demonstrated that PACAP has low toxicity at biologically relevant levels. These findings demonstrate PACAP’s therapeutic promise for sepsis-ALI through modulation of the Sp1/AQP1 axis.
{"title":"PACAP inhibits sepsis-associated acute lung injury by inhibiting the Sp1/AQP1 pathway","authors":"Zhuangzhi Xiong , Xiaoqin Zhou , Yufeng Li , Liu Yang","doi":"10.1016/j.peptides.2025.171411","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.peptides.2025.171411","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Sepsis-induced acute lung injury (ALI) represents a severe pathological state marked by uncontrolled inflammation, redox imbalance, and alveolar-capillary barrier breakdown. Here, we evaluated the therapeutic potential of pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) in a murine sepsis-ALI model. PACAP treatment notably ameliorated histological damage, reduced oxidative stress biomarkers, and mitigated inflammatory processes, including neutrophil accumulation and pro-inflammatory cytokine release. Molecular analysis revealed PACAP-mediated downregulation of Aquaporin-1 (AQP1) and specificity protein 1 (Sp1), key regulators of alveolar fluid homeostasis and inflammatory signaling. Genetic Sp1 overexpression abrogated PACAP-induced AQP1 suppression, validating the Sp1/AQP1 signaling pathway as a critical mediator of PACAP’s protective effects. Additionally, in vitro MTT assays on RAW 264.7 macrophages demonstrated that PACAP has low toxicity at biologically relevant levels. These findings demonstrate PACAP’s therapeutic promise for sepsis-ALI through modulation of the Sp1/AQP1 axis.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19765,"journal":{"name":"Peptides","volume":"191 ","pages":"Article 171411"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-05-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144132597","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Acute/chronic exposure to nicotine modulates feeding behavior in experimental animals and humans. However, how nicotine modulates food intake remains unclear. This study examined the acute effects of the peripheral administration of nicotine on food intake in adult male rats, focusing on the possible involvement of the anorectic peptide nesfatin-1/nucleobindin-2 (NucB2) in the central nervous system (CNS). Initially, cumulative food intake, but not water intake, was significantly decreased 0.5, 1, and 1.5 h after the intraperitoneal administration of nicotine (0.5 mg/kg) in 24h-fasted rats. Subsequently, the double-labeled immunohistochemical study revealed that nesfatin-1/NucB2-immunoreactive (ir) neurons expressed Fos-ir in various nuclei of the hypothalamic and brainstem areas, including the supraoptic nucleus and ventral tegmental areas, 90 min after the intraperitoneal administration of nicotine. Finally, pretreatment with intracerebroventricular administration of antisense RNA against nesfatin-1/NucB2 significantly attenuated the suppression of food intake induced by intraperitoneal nicotine administration. The results indicated that the acute effects of peripherally administered nicotine on the suppression of food intake may be partially involved in nesfatin-1/NucB2-containing neurons in the CNS in male adult rats.
{"title":"Acute effects of peripherally administered nicotine on food intake via the central anorectic peptide nesfatin-1/nucleobindin-2 in adult male rats","authors":"Reiko Saito , Yukiyo Yamamoto , Reiji Fukano , Masatomo Mori , Takashi Maruyama , Yoichi Ueta","doi":"10.1016/j.peptides.2025.171409","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.peptides.2025.171409","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Acute/chronic exposure to nicotine modulates feeding behavior in experimental animals and humans. However, how nicotine modulates food intake remains unclear. This study examined the acute effects of the peripheral administration of nicotine on food intake in adult male rats, focusing on the possible involvement of the anorectic peptide nesfatin-1/nucleobindin-2 (NucB2) in the central nervous system (CNS). Initially, cumulative food intake, but not water intake, was significantly decreased 0.5, 1, and 1.5 h after the intraperitoneal administration of nicotine (0.5 mg/kg) in 24h-fasted rats. Subsequently, the double-labeled immunohistochemical study revealed that nesfatin-1/NucB2-immunoreactive (ir) neurons expressed Fos-ir in various nuclei of the hypothalamic and brainstem areas, including the supraoptic nucleus and ventral tegmental areas, 90 min after the intraperitoneal administration of nicotine. Finally, pretreatment with intracerebroventricular administration of antisense RNA against nesfatin-1/NucB2 significantly attenuated the suppression of food intake induced by intraperitoneal nicotine administration. The results indicated that the acute effects of peripherally administered nicotine on the suppression of food intake may be partially involved in nesfatin-1/NucB2-containing neurons in the CNS in male adult rats.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19765,"journal":{"name":"Peptides","volume":"189 ","pages":"Article 171409"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-05-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143942556","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-04-11DOI: 10.1016/j.peptides.2025.171404
Eva-Maria Jülke, Annette G. Beck-Sickinger
Peptide drugs are a highly diverse group of therapeutic agents. Over the last decade, more than 40 peptides have been approved for clinical use. They target different structures, ranging from G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) to pathogens and are used to treat a variety of indications, including metabolic disorders, genetic diseases, acute illnesses and more. Structurally, peptide therapeutics are a heterogeneous class. This diversity allows them to bridge the gap between small molecules and biologics. However, limited metabolic stability and bioavailability must be addressed. Strategies to improve the half-life include backbone and sequence modification, cyclization and the addition of stabilizing moieties. Great strides have been made in recent years towards achieving sufficient drug uptake for oral application have been achieved within recent years. However, these methods require specialized peptide design or involve permeabilization of the gastrointestinal tract. Consequently, other routes of administration are being explored. One promising approach is the nasal application of peptides. This method can be used for systemic uptake, but also allows for direct nose-to-brain delivery of compounds. While successful nose-to-brain delivery is already used in the clinic, the underlining mechanisms are poorly understood. Strategies for rational optimization are needed to make this method more applicable to a wider range of compounds. Overall, approved peptide therapeutics cover a wide range of applications and have demonstrated a growing and novel potential in recent drug discovery.
{"title":"Peptide therapeutics: current status and future opportunity with focus on nose-to-brain delivery☆","authors":"Eva-Maria Jülke, Annette G. Beck-Sickinger","doi":"10.1016/j.peptides.2025.171404","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.peptides.2025.171404","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Peptide drugs are a highly diverse group of therapeutic agents. Over the last decade, more than 40 peptides have been approved for clinical use. They target different structures, ranging from G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) to pathogens and are used to treat a variety of indications, including metabolic disorders, genetic diseases, acute illnesses and more. Structurally, peptide therapeutics are a heterogeneous class. This diversity allows them to bridge the gap between small molecules and biologics. However, limited metabolic stability and bioavailability must be addressed. Strategies to improve the half-life include backbone and sequence modification, cyclization and the addition of stabilizing moieties. Great strides have been made in recent years towards achieving sufficient drug uptake for oral application have been achieved within recent years. However, these methods require specialized peptide design or involve permeabilization of the gastrointestinal tract. Consequently, other routes of administration are being explored. One promising approach is the nasal application of peptides. This method can be used for systemic uptake, but also allows for direct nose-to-brain delivery of compounds. While successful nose-to-brain delivery is already used in the clinic, the underlining mechanisms are poorly understood. Strategies for rational optimization are needed to make this method more applicable to a wider range of compounds. Overall, approved peptide therapeutics cover a wide range of applications and have demonstrated a growing and novel potential in recent drug discovery.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19765,"journal":{"name":"Peptides","volume":"188 ","pages":"Article 171404"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-04-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143847670","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-04-09DOI: 10.1016/j.peptides.2025.171406
Yixiang Wang , Yang Wu , Luming Wu , Xue Fan , Tong Chen , Jijun Tao , Shiyan Tu , Yiqing Wang , Xuehong Zhang
Objective
This study aimed to investigate the effect of JHP-7(QLLEELKR) derived from Jinhua ham on IUA, in order to provide new methods and new ideas for the clinical treatment of IUA.
Methods
The JHP-7 was synthesized by solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS). An in vitro model (human endometrial epithelial cells (HEECs) induced by 10 ng/mL TGF-β1) and an in vivo model (C57BL/6 mice induced by mechanical curettage and LPS stimulation) were used in the study. In vitro, HEEC were co-cultured with TGF-β1with or without JHP-7 (1 μM and 10 μM) for 48 h, followed by RT-qPCR and Western blotting analysis. Meanwhile, the fluorescent ROS probe was employed to assess oxidative stress levels. In vivo, IUA mice were preventively treated with JHP-7 (150 μg/kg/d and 300 μg/kg/d) for 14 days, after which uterine tissues were collected for histopathological evaluation using H&E and Masson staining, as well as molecular analysis via RT-qPCR and Western blotting to measure mRNA and protein expression levels.
Results
In vitro, JHP-7 significantly inhibited the expression of proinflammatory and fibrosis markers, reduced the ROS, and protected endometrial function. Further studies showed that JHP-7 inhibited the apoptosis of TGF-β1-induced HEECs, and reduced the expression of TLR4, p-NF-κB, and p-MAPK. In vivo, JHP-7 significantly improved the uterine morphology and reduced collagen deposition in IUA mice. Reduced expression of TLR4, MyD88, p-NF-κB, p-MAPK and up-regulating expression of Bcl2 were also detected after JHP-7 treatment.
Conclusion
JHP-7 could ameliorate IUA via inhibiting inflammation and apoptosis, which may be related to the TLR4/MyD88/MAPK/NF-κB signaling pathway.
{"title":"JHP-7 (QLLEELKR), a heptapeptide derived from Jinhua ham, may ameliorate intrauterine adhesion (IUA) via inhibiting inflammatory response and apoptosis","authors":"Yixiang Wang , Yang Wu , Luming Wu , Xue Fan , Tong Chen , Jijun Tao , Shiyan Tu , Yiqing Wang , Xuehong Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.peptides.2025.171406","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.peptides.2025.171406","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>This study aimed to investigate the effect of <strong>JHP-7</strong>(QLLEELKR) derived from Jinhua ham on IUA, in order to provide new methods and new ideas for the clinical treatment of IUA.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>The <strong>JHP-7</strong> was synthesized by solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS). An in vitro model (human endometrial epithelial cells (HEECs) induced by 10 ng/mL TGF-β1) and an in vivo model (C57BL/6 mice induced by mechanical curettage and LPS stimulation) were used in the study. In vitro, HEEC were co-cultured with TGF-β1with or without <strong>JHP-7</strong> (1 μM and 10 μM) for 48 h, followed by RT-qPCR and Western blotting analysis. Meanwhile, the fluorescent ROS probe was employed to assess oxidative stress levels. In vivo, IUA mice were preventively treated with <strong>JHP-7</strong> (150 μg/kg/d and 300 μg/kg/d) for 14 days, after which uterine tissues were collected for histopathological evaluation using H&E and Masson staining, as well as molecular analysis <em>via</em> RT-qPCR and Western blotting to measure mRNA and protein expression levels.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>In vitro, <strong>JHP-7</strong> significantly inhibited the expression of proinflammatory and fibrosis markers, reduced the ROS, and protected endometrial function. Further studies showed that <strong>JHP-7</strong> inhibited the apoptosis of TGF-β1-induced HEECs, and reduced the expression of TLR4, p-NF-κB, and p-MAPK. In vivo, <strong>JHP-7</strong> significantly improved the uterine morphology and reduced collagen deposition in IUA mice. Reduced expression of TLR4, MyD88, p-NF-κB, p-MAPK and up-regulating expression of Bcl2 were also detected after <strong>JHP-7</strong> treatment.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div><strong>JHP-7</strong> could ameliorate IUA <em>via</em> inhibiting inflammation and apoptosis, which may be related to the TLR4/MyD88/MAPK/NF-κB signaling pathway.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19765,"journal":{"name":"Peptides","volume":"188 ","pages":"Article 171406"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-04-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143824434","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-04-05DOI: 10.1016/j.peptides.2025.171405
Sara Huber , Theresia Fitzner , René G. Feichtinger , Theo Kraus , Stefanie Gaisbauer , Sarah Hochmann , Karl Sotlar , Barbara Kofler , Martin Varga
The bile duct transports bile fluid from the liver to the gallbladder and small intestine. It contains bioactive peptides, including galanin (GAL) and its receptors (GAL1–3-R). Spexin (SPX), a member of the GAL peptide family, activates GAL2-R and GAL3-R. Its expression in perihilar bile ducts or in perihilar cholangiocarcinoma (pCCA), the most common biliary cancer, is largely unknown. This study investigated SPX expression in healthy, cholestatic, and malignant bile duct tissues. Immunohistochemistry was used to evaluate SPX in healthy (n = 4), peritumoral (PIT) (n = 23) and pCCA (n = 34) tissues. Score values of SPX expression were calculated and statistically analyzed. In healthy and PIT tissues with or without cholestasis, SPX expression was predominantly observed in cholangiocytes and nerve fibers. In pCCA, tumor cells also expressed SPX. SPX levels were similar across healthy, peritumoral, and cholangiocytes/tumor cells. In a small pCCA patient cohort (n = 19), SPX expression did not correlate with tumor grade or patient survival (p = 0.0838). The substantial expression of SPX in cholangiocytes and nerve fibers in the bile duct indicates that SPX contributes via galaninergic signaling to gall bladder function. The presence of SPX in submucosal nerve fibers suggests a neuromodulatory role, possibly involving bile duct motility. SPX expression did not correlate with survival in pCCA, whereas previous findings on GAL suggest a prognostic value. This highlights the need for joint studies of SPX and GAL in larger cohorts.
{"title":"Spexin expression in the human bile duct and perihilar cholangiocarcinoma","authors":"Sara Huber , Theresia Fitzner , René G. Feichtinger , Theo Kraus , Stefanie Gaisbauer , Sarah Hochmann , Karl Sotlar , Barbara Kofler , Martin Varga","doi":"10.1016/j.peptides.2025.171405","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.peptides.2025.171405","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The bile duct transports bile fluid from the liver to the gallbladder and small intestine. It contains bioactive peptides, including galanin (GAL) and its receptors (GAL<sub>1–3</sub>-R). Spexin (SPX), a member of the GAL peptide family, activates GAL<sub>2</sub>-R and GAL<sub>3</sub>-R. Its expression in perihilar bile ducts or in perihilar cholangiocarcinoma (pCCA), the most common biliary cancer, is largely unknown. This study investigated SPX expression in healthy, cholestatic, and malignant bile duct tissues. Immunohistochemistry was used to evaluate SPX in healthy (n = 4), peritumoral (PIT) (n = 23) and pCCA (n = 34) tissues. Score values of SPX expression were calculated and statistically analyzed. In healthy and PIT tissues with or without cholestasis, SPX expression was predominantly observed in cholangiocytes and nerve fibers. In pCCA, tumor cells also expressed SPX. SPX levels were similar across healthy, peritumoral, and cholangiocytes/tumor cells. In a small pCCA patient cohort (n = 19), SPX expression did not correlate with tumor grade or patient survival (<em>p</em> = 0.0838). The substantial expression of SPX in cholangiocytes and nerve fibers in the bile duct indicates that SPX contributes via galaninergic signaling to gall bladder function. The presence of SPX in submucosal nerve fibers suggests a neuromodulatory role, possibly involving bile duct motility. SPX expression did not correlate with survival in pCCA, whereas previous findings on GAL suggest a prognostic value. This highlights the need for joint studies of SPX and GAL in larger cohorts.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19765,"journal":{"name":"Peptides","volume":"188 ","pages":"Article 171405"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-04-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143803919","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-04-03DOI: 10.1016/j.peptides.2025.171393
Jens Juul Holst , Mette M. Rosenkilde
Almost since its discovery, glucagon was suspected to be formed in the gastrointestinal tract, and the L-cells were shown to contain glucagon-like immunoreactivity. This was due to the presence of two peptides that both contained the full glucagon sequence:glicentin of 69 amino acids and oxyntomodulin of 37 amino acids. While glicentin is a part of the glucagon precursor, proglucagon, and probably is inactive, oxyntomodulin, a fragment of glicentin, interacts although weakly with the glucagon as well as the GLP-1 receptor. However, in agreement with these activities, oxyntomodulin inhibited appetite and food intake in humans and inspired development of long acting, potent glucagon-GLP-1 co-agonists. Several such co-agonists are currently in clinical development and show promise because they combine GLP-1 like activities with those of glucagon agonism: additive weight loss and a stimulation of hepatic lipid metabolism with unique effectiveness on hepatic steatosis. They may therefore be effective in the treatment of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD).
{"title":"Oxyntomodulin - past, present and future","authors":"Jens Juul Holst , Mette M. Rosenkilde","doi":"10.1016/j.peptides.2025.171393","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.peptides.2025.171393","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Almost since its discovery, glucagon was suspected to be formed in the gastrointestinal tract, and the L-cells were shown to contain glucagon-like immunoreactivity. This was due to the presence of two peptides that both contained the full glucagon sequence:glicentin of 69 amino acids and oxyntomodulin of 37 amino acids. While glicentin is a part of the glucagon precursor, proglucagon, and probably is inactive, oxyntomodulin, a fragment of glicentin, interacts although weakly with the glucagon as well as the GLP-1 receptor. However, in agreement with these activities, oxyntomodulin inhibited appetite and food intake in humans and inspired development of long acting, potent glucagon-GLP-1 co-agonists. Several such co-agonists are currently in clinical development and show promise because they combine GLP-1 like activities with those of glucagon agonism: additive weight loss and a stimulation of hepatic lipid metabolism with unique effectiveness on hepatic steatosis. They may therefore be effective in the treatment of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD).</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19765,"journal":{"name":"Peptides","volume":"188 ","pages":"Article 171393"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-04-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143788497","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Visceral hypersensitivity and impaired gut barrier function, accompanied by minor inflammation, are crucial components of the pathophysiology of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Research has demonstrated that corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) and toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) signaling mutually activate to produce proinflammatory cytokines, which modulate these gastrointestinal changes. Irisin, a myokine, has been shown to inhibit TLR4-proinflammatory cytokine signaling, thereby improving inflammation driven by obesity and metabolic syndrome. Based on this, we hypothesized that irisin could improve visceral hypersensitivity and impaired gut barrier function induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or CRF (IBS rat models), and tested this hypothesis. The visceral pain threshold, triggered by colonic balloon distention, was assessed by electrophysiologically monitoring abdominal muscle contractions in male Sprague-Dawley rats. Colonic permeability was evaluated by measuring the amount of Evans blue dye absorbed within the colonic tissue. Intraperitoneal irisin prevented LPS-induced visceral hypersensitivity and colonic hyperpermeability in a dose-dependent manner. Irisin also prevented CRF-induced gastrointestinal alterations. The beneficial effects of irisin in the LPS model were reversed by compound C, an AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) inhibitor; NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester, a nitric oxide (NO) synthesis inhibitor; sulpiride or domperidone, a dopamine D2 receptor antagonist; atropine and intracisternal injection of SB-334867, a selective orexin 1 receptor antagonist. Overall, these findings suggest that irisin improves visceral sensation and colonic barrier function through AMPK, NO and dopamine D2, cholinergic and brain orexin signaling in IBS model. Thus, irisin may be a promising therapeutic agent for treating IBS.
内脏过敏和肠道屏障功能受损，伴随着轻微的炎症，是肠易激综合征（IBS）病理生理学的重要组成部分。研究表明，促肾上腺皮质激素释放因子（CRF）和toll样受体4 （TLR4）信号相互激活，产生促炎细胞因子，调节这些胃肠道变化。鸢尾素是一种肌因子，已被证明可以抑制tlr4促炎细胞因子信号，从而改善肥胖和代谢综合征引起的炎症。基于此，我们假设鸢尾素可以改善脂多糖（LPS）或CRF （IBS大鼠模型）引起的内脏超敏反应和肠道屏障功能受损，并对这一假设进行了验证。通过电生理学监测雄性Sprague-Dawley大鼠腹部肌肉收缩，评估由结肠球囊膨胀引发的内脏痛阈。通过测定结肠组织内埃文斯蓝染料的吸收量来评估结肠通透性。鸢尾素以剂量依赖性的方式阻止lps诱导的内脏超敏反应和结肠高渗透性。鸢尾素还能防止crf诱导的胃肠道改变。鸢尾素在LPS模型中的有益作用被化合物C逆转，化合物C是一种amp激活的蛋白激酶（AMPK）抑制剂；NO合成抑制剂ng -硝基- l -精氨酸甲酯；舒必利或多潘立酮，多巴胺D2受体拮抗剂；阿托品和腹腔注射SB-334867，一种选择性食欲素1受体拮抗剂。综上所述，这些发现表明鸢尾素在IBS模型中通过AMPK、NO和多巴胺D2、胆碱能和脑促食欲素信号通路改善内脏感觉和结肠屏障功能。因此，鸢尾素可能是一种很有前途的治疗肠易激综合征的药物。
{"title":"Irisin prevents visceral hypersensitivity and colonic hyperpermeability in a rat model of irritable bowel syndrome","authors":"Tsukasa Nozu , Saori Miyagishi , Masatomo Ishioh , Kaoru Takakusaki , Toshikatsu Okumura","doi":"10.1016/j.peptides.2025.171394","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.peptides.2025.171394","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Visceral hypersensitivity and impaired gut barrier function, accompanied by minor inflammation, are crucial components of the pathophysiology of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Research has demonstrated that corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) and toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) signaling mutually activate to produce proinflammatory cytokines, which modulate these gastrointestinal changes. Irisin, a myokine, has been shown to inhibit TLR4-proinflammatory cytokine signaling, thereby improving inflammation driven by obesity and metabolic syndrome. Based on this, we hypothesized that irisin could improve visceral hypersensitivity and impaired gut barrier function induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or CRF (IBS rat models), and tested this hypothesis. The visceral pain threshold, triggered by colonic balloon distention, was assessed by electrophysiologically monitoring abdominal muscle contractions in male Sprague-Dawley rats. Colonic permeability was evaluated by measuring the amount of Evans blue dye absorbed within the colonic tissue. Intraperitoneal irisin prevented LPS-induced visceral hypersensitivity and colonic hyperpermeability in a dose-dependent manner. Irisin also prevented CRF-induced gastrointestinal alterations. The beneficial effects of irisin in the LPS model were reversed by compound C, an AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) inhibitor; N<sup>G</sup>-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester, a nitric oxide (NO) synthesis inhibitor; sulpiride or domperidone, a dopamine D<sub>2</sub> receptor antagonist; atropine and intracisternal injection of SB-334867, a selective orexin 1 receptor antagonist. Overall, these findings suggest that irisin improves visceral sensation and colonic barrier function through AMPK, NO and dopamine D<sub>2</sub>, cholinergic and brain orexin signaling in IBS model. Thus, irisin may be a promising therapeutic agent for treating IBS.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19765,"journal":{"name":"Peptides","volume":"188 ","pages":"Article 171394"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-03-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143726086","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
扫码关注我们
求助内容：
应助结果提醒方式：
京公网安备 11010802042870号