Diabetic neuropathic pain (DNP), one of the most common complications of diabetes, is characterized by bilateral symmetrical distal limb pain and substantial morbidity. To compare the differences is aimed at serum metabolite levels between 81 DNP and 73 T2DM patients without neuropathy and found that the levels of branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) are significantly lower in DNP patients than in T2DM patients. In high-fat diet/low-dose streptozotocin (HFD/STZ)-induced T2DM and leptin receptor-deficient diabetic (db/db) mouse models, it is verified that BCAA deficiency aggravated, whereas BCAA supplementation alleviated DNP symptoms.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCircular RNAs (ciRNAs) are emerging as new players in the regulation of gene expression. However, how ciRNAs are involved in neuropathic pain is poorly understood. Here, we identify the nervous-tissue-specific ciRNA-Fmn1 and report that changes in ciRNA-Fmn1 expression in spinal cord dorsal horn neurons play a key role in neuropathic pain after nerve injury.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFRNA N4-acetylcytidine (ac4C) modification is increasingly recognized as an important layer of gene regulation; however, the involvement of ac4C in pain regulation has not been studied. Here, we report that N-acetyltransferase 10 protein (NAT10; the only known ac4C "writer") contributes to the induction and development of neuropathic pain in an ac4C-dependent manner. Peripheral nerve injury increases the levels of NAT10 expression and overall ac4C in injured dorsal root ganglia (DRGs).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNerve injury can induce aberrant changes in ion channels, enzymes, and cytokines/chemokines in the dorsal root ganglia (DRGs); these changes are due to or at least partly governed by transcription factors that contribute to the genesis of neuropathic pain. However, the involvement of transcription factors in neuropathic pain is poorly understood. In this study, we report that transcription factor (TF) ETS proto-oncogene 1 (ETS1) is required for the initiation and development of neuropathic pain.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) is over-expressed in gliomas and has become one of the most compelling tumor targets. In this study, we found that oligomer procyanidins (F2) can suppress the expressions of HIF-1α and its target genes in U87 cells, and also down-regulate the EGFR/PI3K/AKT/mTOR and MAPK/ERK1/2 pathways and . Furthermore, hypoxia-induced formation of tubular structures by human umbilical vascular endothelial cells and the migration and invasion of U87 cells could be inhibited by F2 in a HIF-1 dependent manner.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFOverexpression of hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) α, a transcription factor which immortalizes tumors by inducing expression of the genes involved in cell survival, migration and angiogenesis, is closely associated with poor prognosis, increased risk of metastasis and increased mortality. Oligomer procyanidins (F2), a natural fraction from grape seeds, has been demonstrated to have antioxidant and antitumor activities, however the antitumor effect of F2 targeting HIF-1α remains unknown. The present study showed that F2 markedly decreased HIF-1α and the expression of its target genes in cancer cells through inactivating the EGFR-PI3K-AKT-mTOR and MAPK-ERK1/2 pathways.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFRetinoid X receptor (RXR) and Histone deacetylase (HDAC) are considered important targets for anti-cancer therapy due to their crucial roles in genetic or epigenetic regulations of cancer development and progression. Here, we have designed and synthesized a novel compound which targets both RXR and HADC. This dual-targeting agent is derived from bexarotene and suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA), prototypical RXR agonist and HDAC inhibitor, respectively.
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