Molecular mechanisms of mitochondrial DNA release and activation of the cGAS-STING pathway.

In addition to constituting the genetic material of an organism, DNA is a tracer for the recognition of foreign pathogens and a trigger of the innate immune system. cGAS functions as a sensor of double-stranded DNA fragments and initiates an immune response via the adaptor protein STING. The cGAS-STING pathway not only defends cells against various DNA-containing pathogens but also modulates many pathological processes caused by the immune response to the ectopic localization of self-DNA, such as cytosolic mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and extranuclear chromatin.

The Protective Effect of Zebularine, an Inhibitor of DNA Methyltransferase, on Renal Tubulointerstitial Inflammation and Fibrosis.

Renal fibrosis, the final pathway of chronic kidney disease, is caused by genetic and epigenetic mechanisms. Although DNA methylation has drawn attention as a developing mechanism of renal fibrosis, its contribution to renal fibrosis has not been clarified. To address this issue, the effect of zebularine, a DNA methyltransferase inhibitor, on renal inflammation and fibrosis in the murine unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) model was analyzed.

Induction of DR5-Dependent Apoptosis by PGA through ATF4-CHOP Pathway.

Prostaglandin (PG) A, a cyclopentenone PG, induced apoptosis in both HCT116 and HCT116 p53 -/- cells. Although PGA-induced apoptosis in HCT116 cells was dependent on the p53-DR5 pathway, the mechanism underlying PGA-induced apoptosis in HCT116 p53 -/- cells remains unknown. In this study, we observed that PGA caused an increase of mRNA expression of DR5 and protein expression even in HCT116 p53 -/- cells, accompanied by caspase-dependent apoptosis.

Inhibition of STAT3 enhances sensitivity to tamoxifen in tamoxifen-resistant breast cancer cells.

Background: The mechanisms of endocrine resistance are complex, and deregulation of several oncogenic signalling pathways has been proposed. We aimed to investigate the role of the EGFR and Src-mediated STAT3 signalling pathway in tamoxifen-resistant breast cancer cells.

Methods: The ER-positive luminal breast cancer cell lines, MCF-7 and T47D, were used.

Fabry disease exacerbates renal interstitial fibrosis after unilateral ureteral obstruction via impaired autophagy and enhanced apoptosis.

Background: Fabry disease is a rare X-linked genetic lysosomal disorder caused by mutations in the GLA gene encoding alpha-galactosidase A. Despite some data showing that profibrotic and proinflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress could be involved in Fabry disease-related renal injury, the pathogenic link between metabolic derangement within cells and renal injury remains unclear.

Methods: Renal fibrosis was triggered by unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) in mice with Fabry disease to investigate the pathogenic mechanism leading to fibrosis in diseased kidneys.

Induction of p53-Dependent Apoptosis by Prostaglandin A.

Prostaglandin (PG) A, one of cyclopentenone PGs, is known to induce activation of apoptosis in various cancer cells. Although PGA has been reported to cause activation of apoptosis by altering the expression of apoptosis-related genes, the role of p53, one of the most critical pro-apoptotic genes, on PGA-induced apoptosis has not been clarified yet. To address this issue, we compared the apoptosis in HCT116 null cells (HCT116 p53-/-) to that in HCT116 cells containing the wild type gene.

Empagliflozin Contributes to Polyuria via Regulation of Sodium Transporters and Water Channels in Diabetic Rat Kidneys.

Besides lowering glucose, empagliflozin, a selective sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitor, have been known to provide cardiovascular and renal protection due to effects on diuresis and natriuresis. However, the natriuretic effect of SGLT2 inhibitors has been reported to be transient, and long-term data related to diuretic change are sparse. This study was performed to assess the renal effects of a 12-week treatment with empagliflozin (3 mg/kg) in diabetic OLETF rats by comparing it with other antihyperglycemic agents including lixisenatide (10 μg/kg), a glucagon-like peptide receptor-1 agonist, and voglibose (0.

Inhibition of p300/CBP-Associated Factor Attenuates Renal Tubulointerstitial Fibrosis through Modulation of NF-kB and Nrf2.

p300/CBP-associated factor (PCAF), a histone acetyltransferase, is involved in many cellular processes such as differentiation, proliferation, apoptosis, and reaction to cell damage by modulating the activities of several genes and proteins through the acetylation of either the histones or transcription factors. Here, we examined a pathogenic role of PCAF and its potential as a novel therapeutic target in the progression of renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis induced by non-diabetic unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) in male C57BL/6 mice. Administration of garcinol, a PCAF inhibitor, reversed a UUO-induced increase in the renal expression of total PCAF and histone 3 lysine 9 acetylation and reduced positive areas of trichrome and α-smooth muscle actin and collagen content.

Effects of Oncostatin M on Invasion of Primary Trophoblasts under Normoxia and Hypoxia Conditions.

Purpose: To investigate the effect of oncostatin M (OSM) on protein expression levels and enzymatic activities of matrix metalloprotainase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9 in primary trophoblasts and the invasiveness thereof under normoxia and hypoxia conditions.

Materials And Methods: Protein expression levels and enzymatic activities of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in primary trophoblasts under normoxia and hypoxia conditions were examined by Western blot and zymography, respectively. Effects of exogenous OSM on the in vitro invasion activity of trophoblasts according to oxygen concentration were also determined.

Thyrocyte-specific deletion of insulin and IGF-1 receptors induces papillary thyroid carcinoma-like lesions through EGFR pathway activation.

Insulin and insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1 signaling in the thyroid are thought to be permissive for the coordinated regulation by thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) of thyrocyte proliferation and hormone production. However, the integrated role of insulin receptor (IR) and IGF-1 receptor (IGF-1R) in thyroid development and function has not been explored. Here, we generated thyrocyte-specific IR and IGF-1R double knockout (DTIRKO) mice to precisely evaluate the coordinated functions of these receptors in the thyroid of neonates and adults.

Correction: Treatment combining aliskiren with paricalcitol is effective against progressive renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis via dual blockade of intrarenal renin.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.

D‑Pinitol alleviates cyclosporine A‑induced renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis via activating Sirt1 and Nrf2 antioxidant pathways.

Although the mechanism of cyclosporine A (CsA)‑induced renal injury remains to be fully elucidated, accumulating evidence suggests that oxidative stress is critical in producing CsA‑induced structural and functional renal impairment. The present study investigated the effect of D‑pinitol, a cyclitol present in soybean, on chronic CsA nephropathy. Male ICR mice were treated with vehicle, CsA (30 mg/kg/day), D‑pinitol (50 mg/kg/day) or a combination of CsA and D‑pinitol for 28 days.

Treatment combining aliskiren with paricalcitol is effective against progressive renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis via dual blockade of intrarenal renin.

The aim of this study was to assess any potential additive effects of a treatment combining aliskiren with paricalcitol on reducing renal fibrosis. C57BL/6J mice were treated individually with aliskiren and/or paricalcitol until 7 days after initiation of unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO).In obstructed kidneys of UUO mice, monotherapy with aliskiren or paricalcitol significantly attenuated interstitial fibrosis, collagen IV accumulation, and α-smooth muscle actin- and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated biotin nick end-labeling-positive cells.

T-type calcium channel blocker attenuates unilateral ureteral obstruction-induced renal interstitial fibrosis by activating the Nrf2 antioxidant pathway.

Besides its effect on high blood pressure, T-type calcium channel blocker is renoprotective in experimental models of renal fibrosis. However, the exact mechanism of T-type calcium channel blocker on tubulointerstitial fibrosis is unclear. We investigated whether the renoprotective effect of T-type calcium channel blocker is associated with modulation of the signaling of oxidative stress-induced renal fibrosis.

Identification of a novel GLA mutation (Y88C) in a Korean family with Fabry nephropathy: a case report.

Background: Fabry disease is a rare X-linked lysosomal storage disorder caused by α-galactosidase A deficiency. With the advancement of molecular diagnostic tools, more disease-causing mutations in α-galactosidase A (GLA) have been identified in Fabry disease. We found a novel mutation in a Korean family with predominant renal manifestations of the disease.

Frameshift mutation of WISP3 gene and its regional heterogeneity in gastric and colorectal cancers.

WISP3 is involved in many cancer-related processes including epithelial-mesenchymal transition, cell death, invasion, and metastasis and is considered a tumor suppressor. The aim of our study was to find whether WISP3 gene was mutated and expressionally altered in gastric (GC) and colorectal cancers (CRCs). WISP3 gene possesses a mononucleotide repeat in the coding sequence that could be mutated in cancers with high microsatellite instability (MSI-H).

STAT3 and ERK Signaling Pathways Are Implicated in the Invasion Activity by Oncostatin M through Induction of Matrix Metalloproteinases 2 and 9.

Purpose: Our previous studies have shown that oncostatin M (OSM) promotes trophoblast invasion activity through increased enzyme activity of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and -9. We further investigated OSM-induced intracellular signaling mechanisms associated with these events in the immortalized human trophoblast cell line HTR8/SVneo.

Materials And Methods: We investigated the effects of OSM on RNA and protein expression of MMP-2 and -9 in the first-trimester extravillous trophoblast cell line (HTR8/SVneo) via Western blot.

Deletion of IGF-1 Receptors in Cardiomyocytes Attenuates Cardiac Aging in Male Mice.

IGF-1 receptor (IGF-1R) signaling is implicated in cardiac hypertrophy and longevity. However, the role of IGF-1R in age-related cardiac remodeling is only partially understood. We therefore sought to determine whether the deletion of the IGF-1R in cardiomyocytes might delay the development of aging-associated myocardial pathologies by examining 2-year-old male cardiomyocyte-specific IGF-1R knockout (CIGF1RKO) mice.

Nutlin-3 induces BCL2A1 expression by activating ELK1 through the mitochondrial p53-ROS-ERK1/2 pathway.

Nutlin-3 which occupies the p53 binding pocket in HDM2, has been reported to activate apoptosis through both the transcriptional activity-dependent and -independent programs of p53. Transcription-independent apoptosis by nutlin-3 is triggered by p53 which is translocated to mitochondria. However, we previously demonstrated that the nutlin-3-induced mitochondrial translocation of p53 stimulates ERK1/2 activation, an anti-apoptosis signal, via mitochondrial ROS generation.

Silencing of KIF14 interferes with cell cycle progression and cytokinesis by blocking the p27(Kip1) ubiquitination pathway in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Although it has been suggested that kinesin family member 14 (KIF14) has oncogenic potential in various cancers, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the molecular mechanism of this potential remains unknown. We aimed to elucidate the role of KIF14 in hepatocarcinogenesis by knocking down KIF14 in HCC cells that overexpressed KIF14. After KIF14 knockdown, changes in tumor cell growth, cell cycle and cytokinesis were examined.

Nutlin-3 induces HO-1 expression by activating JNK in a transcription-independent manner of p53.

A recent study reported that p53 can induce HO-1 by directly binding to the putative p53 responsive element in the HO-1 promoter. In this study, we report that nutlin-3, a small molecule antagonist of HDM2, induces the transcription of HO-1 in a transcription-independent manner of p53. Nutlin-3 induced HO-1 expression at the level of transcription in human cancer cells such as U2OS and RKO cells.

The RNA-binding protein HuD regulates autophagosome formation in pancreatic β cells by promoting autophagy-related gene 5 expression.

Tight regulation of autophagy is critical for the fate of pancreatic β cells. The autophagy protein ATG5 is essential for the formation of autophagosomes by promoting the lipidation of microtubule-associated protein LC3 (light chain 3). However, little is known about the mechanisms that regulate ATG5 expression levels.

Wilms' tumor gene 1 enhances nutlin-3-induced apoptosis.

Nutlin-3, a human double minute 2 (HDM2) antagonist, induces cell cycle arrest or apoptosis by upregulating p53 in cancer cells. WT1, the product of Wilms' tumor gene 1, has been shown to interact with p53, but the effect of WT1 on nutlin-3-induced apoptosis has yet to be examined. To address this issue, we analyzed the inhibitory effect of nutlin-3 on cell growth as a function of Wt1 expression status using a Wt1-inducible U2OS cell line.