JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR AND CELLULAR CARDIOLOGY
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2025
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IF 4.7
Long Li,Quanyou Chai,Chunling Guo,Junyi Wei,Yuqiao Qin,Huimin Liu,Zhaoyang Lu
Aim Vascular calcification (VC) is a major adverse cardiovascular event in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification is vital for many biological processes, but its function and possible molecular mechanisms in VC are poorly understood. This study aimed to clarify the function and molecular mechanisms of N6-adenosine-methyltransferase-like 3 (METTL3) in VC. Methods and results The results of the bioinformatic analysis showed that METTL3 expression was significantly upregulated in calcified VSMCs. This finding was corroborated by phosphate-induced VSMCs calcification models and 5/6 nephrectomy-induced CKD mouse VC models. Afterward, Alizarin Red S staining and m6A dot blot analysis demonstrated METTL3 overexpression elevated m6A levels and encouraged calcification in VSMCs and mouse aortic rings, while METTL3 knockdown decreased m6A levels and inhibited calcium deposition in these experimental models. Furthermore, METTL3 promoted VC via the PTEN/AKT pathway, and MeRIP verified that METTL3 induced PTEN mRNA degradation by modifying it with m6A. In addition, molecular docking simulations and DARTS assays revealed that quercetin is a natural small-molecule inhibitor of METTL3. The current investigation demonstrated that quercetin mitigated VC by reducing METTL3-dependent m6A levels in vivo and in vitro. Conclusion In conclusion, this study unraveled the pathogenic mechanism of METTL3-mediated m6A modification in VC and provided new insights to establish METTL3 as a therapeutic target for VC.
研究领域:
分子生物学
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心血管疾病
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表观遗传学
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DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE RESEARCH
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2025
·Vol. 103
·期 7
·e70064
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IF 3.4
Sun Hong,Liu GuoYan,Wu JiaWen,Yu Xin,Zhan ShuQin,Reng HongWei,Chen MengYing,Cheng YuXuan
Chronic epilepsy is mainly characterized by spontaneous recurrent seizures (SRS). The peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma/phosphatase and tensin homolog/protein kinase B (PPARγ/PTEN/Akt) pathway is involved in the pathogenesis of SRS and neuronal loss. Curcumin is a natural compound, and previous studies have shown it provides neuroprotection via anti-inflammation and anti-oxidant effects in many central nervous system (CNS) diseases. In the present study, we show that curcumin regulates the abnormal expression of PTEN and Akt in the SRS phase, improves the neuronal loss in the hippocampus, and suppresses SRS development and seizure spike activity in epileptic rats. More importantly, these effects are reversed by the PPARγ antagonist, T0070907, suggesting that curcumin exerts neuroprotective and anti-epileptic effects through the PPARγ/PTEN/Akt signaling pathway. Other studies have shown that curcumin can cross the BBB and has a safety profiles and pleiotropic pharmacological effects. Thus, our data support the proposition that curcumin might be a potential neuroprotective and anti-epileptic agent for chronic epilepsy.
研究领域:
神经病学
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分子生物学
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药理学
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转化医学
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中枢神经系统疾病
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DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
EXPERIMENTAL PHYSIOLOGY
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2020
·Vol. 105
·期 11
·1918-1927
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IF 2.431
Manfeng Wang,Xiaowei Wu,Lu Gan,Zongyan Teng,Haijin Zhang,Yina Zhang
New Findings What is the central question of this study? Does Dnmt3a play a crucial role in regulating diabetic muscle atrophy? What is the main finding and its importance? Muscle atrophy is one of the major long-term complications of diabetes mellitus. However, little is known about the molecular mechanism involved. In this paper, we demonstrated that Dnmt3a overexpression effectively improves the diabetic muscle health in mice and documented the underlying mechanisms. DNMT3A might become a promising target to prevent muscle atrophy in patients with diabetes. Muscle atrophy is one of the major long-term complications of diabetes mellitus, which greatly affects the mobility of patients. Epigenetic processes mediated by DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) play crucial roles in the locomotor system, but little is known about the functions of DNMTs in diabetic muscle atrophy. Here, we investigated the function of Dnmt3a in diabetic muscle atrophy and explored the mechanisms involved. Adeno-associated virus AAV2 overexpressing Dnmt3a or its vector control was injected into the tibialis anterior muscle of streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice. Muscle mass and muscle cross-sectional area were used to evaluate muscle atrophy. In vitro , adeno-associated virus AAV2 overexpressing Dnmt3a or its vector control was transfected into C2C12 myoblasts. Horse serum was used to induce differentiation and palmitate to stimulate the C2C12 myoblasts. The expressions of myogenic regulatory factors were examined by real-time PCR and western blot analysis. Overexpression of Dnmt3a attenuated muscle atrophy in diabetic mice and promoted myotube formation of C2C12 myoblasts. Overexpression of Dnmt3a restored the expressions of myogenic regulatory factors atrogin-1, MuRF1, Pax7, Myod1 and myogenin, both in vivo and in vitro . Moreover, overexpression of Dnmt3a activated the phosphorylation of Akt by inhibiting the activation of Pten. This study demonstrates that overexpression of Dnmt3a prevents diabetic muscle atrophy by modulating the Pten/Akt pathway.
研究领域:
分子生物学
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糖尿病
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肌肉生理学
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表观遗传学
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DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
INJURY-INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF THE CARE OF THE INJURED
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2023
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IF 2.5
Fangyuan Lai,Shijie Dai,Ye Zhao,Yi Sun
Adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) have been widely proven to facilitate wound healing. Our study aimed to estimate the influence of combined ADSCs and platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB) on wound healing. We utilized 4 healthy SD rats to isolate ADSCs. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) was acquired utilizing a two-step centrifugation technology. The role of PRP, PDGF-BB, and PDGF-BB combined with a PI3k inhibitor LY294002 on the viability, migration, and PTEN/AKT pathway in ADSCs were examined utilizing CCK-8, Transwell, and western blot assays. Then, we constructed an open trauma model in SD rats. Effects of ADSCs treated with PDGF-BB on pathological changes, CD31, and PTEN/AKT pathway of wound closure were assessed by hematoxylin & eosin (H&E) staining, Masson staining, immunohistochemical, and western blot assays, respectively. PRP and PDGF-BB intensified the viability and migration of ADSCs by modulating the PTEN/AKT pathway. Interestingly, LY294002 reversed the role of PDGF-BB on ADSCs. In vivo experiments, combined intervention with ADSCs plus PDGF-BB/PRP facilitated wound closure and ameliorated histological injury. Moreover, combined intervention with ADSCs and PDGF-BB attenuated the PTEN level and elevated the CD31 level as well as the ratio of p-AKT/AKT in the skin tissues. A combination of ADSCs and PDGF-BB facilitated wound healing might associate with the regulation of the PTEN/AKT pathway.
研究领域:
再生医学
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伤口愈合
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细胞生物学
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分子生物学
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药理学
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DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICS
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2023
·
IF 5.8
Yimin Wang,Yanan Zhang,Zhihui Yang,Lei Zhang,Xiangping Chen,Guliang Yang,Jianfeng Zhan,Shiming Li,Feng He,Guanwei Fan
Psoriasis is an inflammatory skin disease accompanied with chronic papulosquamous lesions and multiple comorbidities that considerably affect patients’ quality of life. In order to develop an enhanced therapeutic strategy for psoriasis, 5-demethylnobiletin (5-DN), a kind of polymethoxyflavones (PMFs) with high anti-inflammatory activity, was delivered in vitro and in vivo by the nanocarrier of mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) both in the human keratinocytes HaCaT cell line and the mouse model with psoriasis-like lesions. The drug-loaded nanocarrier system (MSNs@5-DN) significantly improved the biocompatibility and bioavailability of 5-DN. Investigations at cell biological, histopathological, and molecular levels revealed the pharmacological mechanism of the drug delivery system, including the inhibition of inflammatory responses by downregulating the proinflammatory cytokine levels of tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6). The upregulation of anti‑inflammatory cytokine of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) and microRNA-17-5p, a critical regulator of the PTEN/AKT pathway, was also observed. The psoriasis-like lesions were markedly ameliorated in the mouse models treated with MSNs@5-DN. The designed drug-loading system shows an enhanced therapeutic outcome for psoriasis-like lesion compared with free 5-DN. This study revealed the synergistic effect of functionalized MSNs loaded with PMFs on the clinical treatment of human psoriasis.
研究领域:
药学
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纳米技术
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皮肤科
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分子生物学
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DOI
PubMed
高影响因子