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Plants trigger endoplasmic reticulum (ER) pathways to survive stresses, but the assistance of ER in plant tolerance still needs to be explored. Thus, we selected sensitive and tolerant contrasting abiotic stress sorghum varieties to test if they present a degree of tolerance to ER stress. Accordingly, this work evaluated crescent concentrations of tunicamycin (TM µg mL-1): control (0), lower (0.5), mild (1.5), and higher (2.5) on the initial establishment of sorghum seedlings CSF18 and CSF20. ER stress promoted growth and metabolism reductions, mainly in CSF18, from mild to higher TM. The lowest TM increased SbBiP and SbPDI chaperones, as well as SbbZIP60, and SbbIRE1 gene expressions, but mild and higher TM decreased it. However, CSF20 exhibited higher levels of SbBiP and SbbIRE1 transcripts. It corroborated different metabolic profiles among all TM treatments in CSF18 shoots and similarities between profiles of mild and higher TM in CSF18 roots. Conversely, TM profiles of both shoots and roots of CSF20 overlapped, although it was not complete under low TM treatment. Furthermore, ER stress induced an increase of carbohydrates (dihydroxyacetone in shoots, and cellobiose, maltose, ribose, and sucrose in roots), and organic acids (pyruvic acid in shoots, and butyric and succinic acids in roots) in CSF20, which exhibited a higher degree of ER stress tolerance compared to CSF18 with the root being the most affected plant tissue. Thus, our study provides new insights that may help to understand sorghum tolerance and the ER disturbance as significant contributor for stress adaptation and tolerance engineering.
Apoptosis is a key defense process for multiple immune system functions, playing a central role in maintaining homeostasis and cell development. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of environmental pollutant exposure on immune-related apoptotic pathways in crab tissues and human cells. To do this, we characterized the multifunctional immune complement component 1q (C1q) gene and analyzed C1q expression in Macrophthalmus japonicus crabs after exposure to di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) or hexabromocyclododecanes (HBCDs). Moreover, the responses of apoptotic signal-related genes were observed in M. japonicus tissues and human cell lines (HEK293T and HCT116). C1q gene expression was downregulated in the gills and hepatopancreas of M. japonicus after exposure to DEHP or HBCD. Pollutant exposure also increased antioxidant enzyme activities and altered transcription of 15 apoptotic signaling genes in M. japonicus. However, patterns in apoptotic signaling in response to these pollutants differed in human cells. HBCD exposure generated an apoptotic signal (cleaved caspase-3) and inhibited cell growth in both cell lines, whereas DEHP exposure did not produce such a response. These results suggest that exposure to environmental pollutants induced different levels of immune-related apoptosis depending on the cell or tissue type and that this induction of apoptotic signaling may trigger an initiation of carcinogenesis in M. japonicus and in humans as consumers.
The experimental myocardial infarction (MI) model originating from isoproterenol (ISO) is frequently preferred in research due to its similarity to MI-induced damage in humans. Beneficial effects of L-arginine (L-Arg), a semi-essential amino acid, in cardiovascular diseases have been shown in many studies. This study was carried out to determine whether L-Arg pre-intervention has protective effects on heart tissue in the experimental MI model. The 28 rats used in the study were randomly divided into 4 equal groups: control, L-Arg, ISO, and L-Arg+ISO. Upon completion of all applications, cardiac markers in serum and biochemical, histopathological, and immunohistochemical examinations in cardiac tissues were performed. Cardiac markers, histopathological changes, oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis were increased in the experimental MI model. In addition, administration of ISO deregulated OTULIN levels and mitochondrial dynamics in heart tissue. However, L-Arg pre-intervention showed a significant protective effect against changes in ISO-induced MI. L-Arg supplementation with cardioprotective effect may reduce the risks of possible pathophysiological processes in MI.
Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) represents a prevalent form of cancer, with low early diagnosis rates and high mortality rates, posing a global health challenge. Heat shock proteins (HSPs) assume a crucial role within the tumor immune microenvironment (TME) of LUAD. Here, a collection of 97 HSP-related genes (HSPGs) was assembled based on prior literature reports, of which 36 HSPGs were differentially expressed in LUAD. In The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) cohort, we constructed a prognostic model for risk stratification and prognosis prediction by integrating 13 HSPGs. In addition, the prognostic significance and predictive efficacy of the HSP-related riskscore were examined and validated in the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) cohort. To facilitate the clinical use of this riskscore, we also established a nomogram scale by verifying its effectiveness through different methods. In light of these outcomes, we concluded a significant correlation between HSPs and TME in LUAD, and the riskscore can be a reliable prognostic indicator. Furthermore, this study evaluated the differences in immunophenoscore, tumor immune dysfunction and exclusion score, and sensitivity to several common chemotherapy drugs among LUAD individuals in different risk groups, which may aid in clinical decision-making for immune therapy and chemotherapy in LUAD individuals.
The Fourth Cell Stress Society International workshop on small heat shock proteins (sHSPs), a follow-up to successful workshops held in 2014, 2016 and 2018, took place as a virtual meeting on the 17-18 November 2022. The meeting was designed to provide an opportunity for those working on sHSPs to reconnect and discuss their latest work. The diversity of research in the sHSP field is reflected in the breadth of topics covered in the talks presented at this meeting. Here we summarise the presentations at this meeting and provide some perspectives on exciting future topics to be addressed in the field.