Publications by authors named "Eun Ju Bae"
Background: Acute kidney injury following ischemia-reperfusion remains a substantial perioperative challenge lacking effective treatment. p21-activated kinase 4 (PAK4), a downstream effector of Rho GTPase, has been explored in hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury, but its role in renal ischemia-reperfusion is unknown.
Methods: Wild-type and proximal tubule-specific Pak4 knockout mice underwent 25 min of ischemia followed by 24 h of reperfusion injury.
Cannabidiol (CBD), a nonpsychoactive compound from Cannabis, has various bioactive functions in humans and animals. Evidence suggests that CBD promotes muscle injury recovery in athletes, but whether and how CBD improves endurance performance remains unclear. Here we investigated the effects of CBD treatment on exercise performance in mice and assessed whether this effect involves the gut microbiome.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSkeletal disorders, including fractures, osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and spinal degenerative conditions, along with associated spinal cord injuries, significantly impair daily life and impose a substantial burden. Many of these conditions are notably linked to inflammation, with some classified as inflammatory diseases. Pyroptosis, a newly recognized form of inflammatory cell death, is primarily triggered by inflammasomes and executed by caspases, leading to inflammation and cell death through gasdermin proteins.
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- * In diabetic animals and humans, PAK4 levels are notably higher in skeletal muscles. When PAK4 is removed from muscle tissues or inhibited in obese mice, insulin sensitivity improves, suggesting a link between PAK4 and insulin resistance.
- * PAK4 is shown to worsen insulin resistance by interfering with AMPK activity; thus, targeting PAK4 in skeletal muscle could be a potential treatment for type 2 diabetes.
Article Synopsis
- Skeletal muscle atrophy leads to reduced muscle strength and size, caused by factors like malnutrition, aging, nerve damage, and chronic illnesses such as heart failure and diabetes.
- The aging process significantly increases the risk of sarcopenia, as well as muscle atrophy in patients with long-term health conditions.
- The study investigates how epigenetic changes, particularly increased methylation in muscle genes, contribute to muscle atrophy, aiming to improve understanding and develop new treatments for this issue.
Article Synopsis
- Adipose tissue lipolysis, the breakdown of fat, is controlled by a signaling pathway involving cAMP and protein kinase A (PKA), which targets a protein called PAK4 for degradation.
- Mice with higher levels of PAK4 in their fat tissue show reduced fat breakdown and increased obesity, while mice lacking PAK4 or treated with a PAK4 inhibitor lose weight and improve insulin sensitivity.
- PAK4 interferes with lipolysis by phosphorylating and inhibiting the action of key proteins (FABP4 and HSL) involved in fat metabolism, with elevated PAK4 levels linked to obesity in humans, suggesting that targeting PAK4 could be a potential obesity treatment.
Article Synopsis
- This study explores how cannabidiol (CBD), a compound from the Cannabis plant, affects mast cell degranulation (a key process in allergic reactions) in both human and mouse cells.* -
- Results showed that CBD effectively reduces mast cell degranulation when triggered by antigens, and it does this by working on specific signaling pathways without affecting the overall expression of receptors involved in allergic responses.* -
- The findings suggest that CBD could be a promising treatment for conditions related to mast cell activation, such as allergies and anaphylaxis, since it also reduced allergic reactions in mice.*
Article Synopsis
- PPARα corepressor NCoR1 is crucial for regulating fatty acid β-oxidation and ketogenesis, but details of its regulation have been unclear.
- The study identifies p21-activated kinase 4 (PAK4) as a kinase that phosphorylates NCoR1, enhancing its nuclear presence and interaction with PPARα, which diminishes PPARα's transcriptional activity.
- Elevated PAK4 and phosphorylated NCoR1 levels were found in the livers of high fat diet-fed mice and patients with NAFLD and hepatocellular carcinoma; additionally, fasting reduces PAK4 protein levels, linking it to fatty acid metabolism regulation.
Article Synopsis
- - Adipose tissue inflammation is a key factor in obesity-related insulin resistance, where inflamed adipocytes release cytokines that attract immune cells.
- - Sirtuin 6 (Sirt6) is crucial for regulating this inflammation but its levels drop in obese individuals and rise with weight loss; its deficiency can impact various immune cells and their roles in inflammation.
- - The review discusses specific immune cell types involved in adipose tissue inflammation and highlights the need for more research on Sirt6's effects on insulin resistance and mechanisms of adipose tissue browning.
Article Synopsis
- This study explores how the extract from Jingzaojing leaves and shoots (JLSE), containing phenolic compounds, impacts muscle fiber type switching from fast-glycolytic to slow-oxidative fibers, which could help with heart and metabolic diseases.
- Male mice were given JLSE or a placebo and trained on a treadmill for four weeks, resulting in those given JLSE displaying better stamina and mitochondrial function.
- JLSE helped promote this muscle fiber shift by increasing the expression of a protein called sirtuin 6 and decreasing another called Sox6, leading to more mitochondria and improved exercise endurance.
The purpose of this study was to examine whether , cultivated in a smart-farming system with LED lamps, could increase exercise capacity in mice. C57BL/6 male mice were orally administered vehicle or water extract (LTE), either 30 or 100 mg/kg, and were subjected to moderate intensity treadmill exercise for 4 weeks. Running distance markedly increased in the LTE group (100 mg/kg) by 80 ± 4% compared to the vehicle group, which was accompanied by a higher proportion of oxidative fibers (6 ± 6% vs.
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- PAK4 is a kinase associated with cancer that was found to be overexpressed in liver injury scenarios, including hepatic ischaemia-reperfusion (I/R) and liver transplants.* -
- In a study, a compound called SPA7012, a new type of PAK4 inhibitor, was shown to significantly reduce liver damage in mice experiencing I/R injury by improving biochemical and histopathological outcomes.* -
- The beneficial effects of SPA7012 are linked to the stabilization of Nrf2, which is crucial for the body's anti-oxidative response, suggesting that PAK4 inhibitors could be promising for treating liver damage. *
Article Synopsis
- Cholestatic liver disease, marked by liver inflammation and bile duct obstruction, can lead to serious liver damage and fibrosis.
- The study investigated the effects of Maxim extract (ATE), known for its anti-inflammatory properties, on liver injury in a mouse model of cholestasis.
- Results showed that ATE treatment significantly reduced liver damage, inflammation, and fibrosis, indicating its potential as a therapeutic agent for cholestasis-related liver issues.
Article Synopsis
- NAD is a crucial cofactor for various biological processes, and its decline with age impairs immune function, particularly in mast cells during anaphylaxis, a topic that hasn't been extensively studied.
- The study investigated the impact of NAD-boosting compounds, namely nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) and nicotinamide riboside (NR), on mast cell activity and anaphylactic responses in both human and mouse models.
- Results showed that NAD precursors reduced harmful signaling and inflammatory responses in mast cells and significantly decreased anaphylactic reactions in mouse models, though these effects depended on the presence of the Sirt6 protein in mast cells.
Article Synopsis
- - The study investigates whether an extract from the *Umbelliferae* family can protect against liver injury caused by cholestasis, an issue not previously explored.
- - Administration of the extract (AKE) in mouse models showed significant reduction in liver damage, bile acids, and bilirubin levels, indicating a protective effect on the liver.
- - AKE was found to reduce liver inflammation and fibrosis by suppressing certain inflammatory pathways, suggesting its potential use in treating cholestatic liver diseases.
Article Synopsis
- Alcoholic liver disease is mainly caused by excessive alcohol consumption, leading to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, which involves a protein called ERdj5 that needs further research regarding its role in this condition.
- In studies with mice and humans suffering from alcoholic hepatitis, levels of ERdj5 were found to increase significantly, and its absence worsened alcohol-related liver damage and oxidative stress.
- The findings indicate that ERdj5 may help protect the liver by influencing the Nrf2 pathway and maintaining antioxidant levels, suggesting its potential as a therapeutic target for alcoholic liver disease.
Article Synopsis
- Expanding skeletal muscle's capacity for exercise may help combat obesity-related metabolic diseases by converting muscle fibers into slower-twitch, oxidative types.
- The study highlights Sirt6, an anti-aging enzyme, as crucial for this conversion, showing that activating Sirt6 can mimic exercise benefits.
- Experiments in mice demonstrate that manipulating Sirt6 affects muscle fiber types, boosts energy production, and enhances exercise performance, suggesting its potential as a target for improving muscle health.
LDHA Desuccinylase Sirtuin 5 as A Novel Cancer Metastatic Stimulator in Aggressive Prostate Cancer.
Genomics Proteomics Bioinformatics
February 2023
Article Synopsis
- * The study focuses on Sirtuin 5 (SIRT5), a protein that hasn't been well-studied in cancer, showing that lower levels of SIRT5 correlate with more aggressive PCa and decreased survival.
- * Researchers found that a specific modification of the lactate dehydrogenase A (LDHA) protein is linked to increased cancer cell movement and aggressiveness, suggesting that targeting SIRT5 and its effects on LDHA could help in treating advanced prostate cancer.
Article Synopsis
- PAK4 is an oncogenic protein that plays a significant role in liver injury caused by ischemia/reperfusion (I/R), making it a potential target for anticancer therapy.
- Research using Pak4 knockout mice revealed that deleting PAK4 in liver cells reduced liver damage and inflammation during I/R injury, while overexpressing it worsened the condition.
- PAK4 was found to inhibit the antioxidant protein Nrf2, and inhibiting PAK4 showed protective effects against liver injury, suggesting that targeting PAK4 could be a beneficial strategy for treatment.
SIRT5 Directly Inhibits the PI3K/AKT Pathway in Prostate Cancer Cell Lines.
Cancer Genomics Proteomics
March 2022
Article Synopsis
- * The study used quantitative proteomics to compare parental PC-3 cells with SIRT5 knockout (KO) cells, finding increased interleukin-1β (IL-1β) levels and enhanced PI3K/AKT/NF-ĸB signaling in SIRT5 KO cells.
- * This research reveals the first link between SIRT5 and PCa metastasis, indicating that reduced SIRT5 function may lead to increased metastasis via the PI3
Article Synopsis
- Intermittent fasting (IF) is popular for improving health, including weight loss and better blood sugar levels, but its specific molecular mechanisms are not fully understood.
- The study examined the role of Sirtuin 6 (Sirt6) in fat cells (adipocytes) and how its deficiency affects the metabolic benefits of IF using genetically modified mice.
- Results showed that mice lacking Sirt6 in adipocytes had poorer responses to IF, leading to issues like insulin intolerance and reduced fat tissue browning, suggesting that Sirt6 is essential for the metabolic advantages of IF.
p21-activated kinase 4 phosphorylates peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor Υ and suppresses skeletal muscle regeneration.
J Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle
December 2021
Article Synopsis
- The study investigates the role of p21-activated kinase 4 (PAK4) in skeletal muscle regeneration, focusing on its impact on myoblast differentiation and overall muscle recovery after injury.
- Using both in vitro (cell culture) and in vivo (mouse model) approaches, researchers analyzed how altering PAK4 levels affects myoblast fusion and the formation of myofibres during muscle repair.
- Results showed that higher PAK4 levels hindered myoblast fusion and muscle regeneration, whereas reducing PAK4 through silencing or inhibition improved the formation of larger myotubes and overall muscle recovery post-injury.
Background And Purpose: The anthelmintic drug praziquantel has been used as a standard treatment for schistosomiasis for over 40 years. This study aimed to repurpose praziquantel to treat psoriasis.
Experimental Approach: Psoriasis-like skin inflammation was induced in mice (C57 and Balb/C) by topical application of imiquimod or intradermal injection of recombinant IL-23.
Article Synopsis
- Exposure to cold temps boosts the activation of certain immune cells (M2 macrophages) in fat tissue, which helps increase fat burning and heat production.
- A study found that mice lacking the Sirt6 protein in immune cells had reduced fat burning responses and fewer M2 macrophages when exposed to cold.
- Sirt6 is vital for the differentiation of eosinophils (another type of immune cell) and works by interacting with and enhancing the function of a protein called GATA-1, contributing to the adaptive thermogenesis process.