20 research outputs found
Data supporting the regulation of FOXC2 in podocyte dysfunction
Abstract This data article shows the expression levels of specific podocyte injury markers and podocyte slit diaphragm protein nephrin in obese and lean Zucker rat glomeruli. It also contains information on the effect of the overexpression of transcription factor FOXC2 on the ratio of F- and G-actin and the expression level of ZO-1 in differentiated human podocytes. The article also shows data on the effect of treatments of differentiated podocytes with various factors associated with obesity and diabetes on the expression level of FOXC2. The detailed interpretation of these data and other aspects of podocyte injury mediated by upregulation of FOXC2 can be found in “Overexpression of transcription factor FOXC2 in cultured human podocytes upregulates injury markers and increases motility [1].Peer reviewe
Overexpression of transcription factor FOXC2 in cultured human podocytes upregulates injury markers and increases motility
Obesity and diabetes-related kidney diseases associate with renal failure and cardiovascular morbidity, and represent a major health issue worldwide. However, the molecular mechanisms leading to their development remain poorly understood. We observed increased expression of transcription factor FoxC2 in the podocytes of obese Zucker rats that are insulin resistant and albuminuric. We also found that depletion of adiponectin, an adipocyte-derived hormone whose secretion is decreased in obesity, up regulated FOXC2 in differentiated human podocytes in vitro. Overexpression of FOXC2 in cultured human podocytes led to increased nuclear expression of FOXC2 associated with a change of cellular morphology. This was accompanied by upregulation of vimentin, a key mesenchymal marker, and active beta-catenin, associated with podocyte injury. We also observed re-organization of the actin cytoskeleton, disrupted localization of the tight junction protein ZO-1, and increased motility of podocytes overexpressing FOXC2. These data indicate that the expression of FOXC2 in podocytes needs to be tightly regulated, and that its overexpression induces a chain of cellular events leading to podocyte dysfunction. These changes may lead to podocyte detachment and depletion ultimately contributing to albuminuria. We also suggest a novel molecular mechanism linking obesity-induced decrease in adiponectin to podocyte dysfunction via upregulation of FOXC2. (C) 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Peer reviewe
Skeletal muscle proteomes reveal downregulation of mitochondrial proteins in transition from prediabetes into type 2 diabetes
Skeletal muscle insulin resistance is a central defect in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes (T2D). Here, we analyzed skeletal muscle proteome in 148 vastus lateralis muscle biopsies obtained from men covering all glucose tolerance phenotypes: normal, impaired fasting glucose (IFG), impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and T2D. Skeletal muscle proteome was analyzed by a sequential window acquisition of all theoretical mass spectra (SWATH-MS) proteomics technique. Our data indicate a downregulation in several proteins involved inmitochondrial electron transport or respiratory chain complex assembly already in IFG and IGT-muscles, with most profound decreases observed in T2D. Additional phosphoproteomic analysis reveals altered phosphorylation in several signaling pathways in IFG, IGT, and T2D muscles, including those regulating glucose metabolic processes, and the structure of muscle cells. These data reveal several alterations present in skeletalmuscle already in prediabetes and highlight impairedmitochondrial energy metabolism in the trajectory from prediabetes into T2D.Peer reviewe
Sequence analysis of pooled bacterial samples enables identification of strain variation in group A streptococcus
Knowledge of the genomic variation among different strains of a pathogenic microbial species can help in selecting optimal candidates for diagnostic assays and vaccine development. Pooled sequencing (Pool-seq) is a cost effective approach for population level genetic studies that require large numbers of samples such as various strains of a microbe. To test the use of Pool-seq in identifying variation, we pooled DNA of 100 Streptococcus pyogenes strains of different emm types in two pools, each containing 50 strains. We used four variant calling tools (Freebayes, UnifiedGenotyper, SNVer, and SAMtools) and one emm1 strain, SF370, as a reference genome. In total 63719 SNPs and 164 INDELs were identified in the two pools concordantly by at least two of the tools. Majority of the variants (93.4%) from six individually sequenced strains used in the pools could be identified from the two pools and 72.3% and 97.4% of the variants in the pools could be mined from the analysis of the 44 complete Str. pyogenes genomes and 3407 sequence runs deposited in the European Nucleotide Archive respectively. We conclude that DNA sequencing of pooled samples of large numbers of bacterial strains is a robust, rapid and cost-efficient way to discover sequence variation.Peer reviewe
Simvastatin profoundly impairs energy metabolism in primary human muscle cells
Correction: Volume11, Issue: 7 Article Number: x200444 DOI: 10.1530/EC-20-0444e Published: JUL 2022Objectives: Simvastatin use is associated with muscular side effects, and increased risk for type 2 diabetes (T2D). In clinical use, simvastatin is administered in inactive lipophilic lactone-form, which is then converted to active acid-form in the body. Here, we have investigated if lactone- and acid-form simvastatin differentially affect glucose metabolism and mitochondrial respiration in primary human skeletal muscle cells. Methods: Muscle cells were exposed separately to lactone- and acid-form simvastatin for 48 h. After pre-exposure, glucose uptake and glycogen synthesis were measured using radioactive tracers; insulin signalling was detected with Western blotting; and glycolysis, mitochondrial oxygen consumption and ATP production were measured with Seahorse XF(e)96 analyzer. Results: Lactone-form simvastatin increased glucose uptake and glycogen synthesis, whereas acid-form simvastatin did not affect glucose uptake and decreased glycogen synthesis. Phosphorylation of insulin signalling targets Akt substrate 160 kDa (AS160) and glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta (GSK3 beta) was upregulated with lactone-, but not with acid-form simvastatin. Exposure to both forms of simvastatin led to a decrease in glycolysis and glycolytic capacity, as well as to a decrease in mitochondrial respiration and ATP production. Conclusions: These data suggest that lactone- and acid-forms of simvastatin exhibit differential effects on non-oxidative glucose metabolism as lacto ne-form increases and acid-form impairs glucose storage into glycogen, suggesting impaired insulin sensitivity in response to acid-form simvastatin. Both forms profoundly impair oxidative glucose metabolism and energy production in human skeletal muscle cells. These effects may contribute to muscular side effects and risk for T2D observed with simvastatin use.Peer reviewe
Targeting of immunostimulatory DNA cures experimental visceral leishmaniasis through nitric oxide up-regulation and T cell activation
Active targeting of CpG-containing oligodeoxynucleotide (CpG-ODN) to macrophages was
studied by incorporating it in mannose-coated liposomes, using visceral leishmaniasis as
the model macrophage disease. Mannosylated liposomal CpG-ODN was more effective
than liposomal or free CpG-ODN in inhibiting amastigote multiplication within macrophages.
Moreover, in a 60-day mouse model of visceral leishmaniasis, complete elimination of spleen
parasite burden was achieved by mannosylated liposomal CpG-ODN, compared to 62%
and 81% parasite suppression by free and liposomal ODN, respectively, at a similar dose.
Although in vitro exposure of CpG-ODN did not induce marked nitric oxide (NO) generation
by macrophages, considerably enhanced amount of NO was generated by macrophages of
CpG-ODN-treated animals. Their splenocytes secreted soluble factors required for the
induction of NO generation, and the increased NO generation was paralleled by an increase
in antileishmanial activity. Inducible NO generation was suppressed by treating splenocyte
supernatants with anti-IFN- + or anti-IL-12 antibodies, whereas in vivo administration of
these anti-cytokine Ab along with CpG-ODN reversed protection against infection. CpGODN
treatment resulted in reduced levels of IL-4, but increased levels of IFN- + , IL-12 and
inducible NO synthase in infected spleen cells, which was magnified by encapsulation in
mannose-coated liposomes. This targeted treatment was not only curative, but it also
imparted resistance to reinfection. These results represent a general approach for intracellular
targeting of CpG-ODN, which effectively enhances its therapeutic potential in redirecting
curative Th1 responses in Th2-driven disorders
Successful Therapy of Lethal Murine Visceral Leishmaniasis with Cystatin Involves Up-Regulation of Nitric Oxide and a Favorable T Cell Response
Targeting of Parasite-Specific Immunoliposome- Encapsulated Doxorubicin in the Treatment of Experimental Visceral Leishmaniasis
A parasite-specific 51-kDa protein has been isolated from the membrane of macrophages infected with Leishmania
donovani, the causative agent of visceral leishmaniasis. Active targeting of doxorubicin to infected
macrophages was studied by incorporating it in immunoliposomes prepared by grafting F(ab)�2 of anti–51-
kDa antibody onto the liposomal surface. In a 45-day mouse model of visceral leishmaniasis, complete elimination
of spleen parasite burden was achieved by doxorubicin incorporated in immunoliposome (immunodoxosome)
at a dose of 250 mg/kg/day that was given for 4 consecutive days. A similar dose of free and
liposomal drug (doxosome) had 45% and 84% parasite suppressive effects, respectively. Immunodoxosome
and doxosome were generally less toxic than the free drug, as determined by several clinical parameters of
cardiotoxicity and liver toxicity. These results not only indicate the potential of doxorubicin as an effective
chemotherapeutic agent but also establish the use of immunoliposomes as drug carrier in the therapy of
leishmaniasis
WITHDRAWN: Curcumin, a dietary polyphenol, emerges as a novel inhibitor of DNA topoisomerase I of kinetoplastid parasite Leishmania donovani
Targeting of Parasite-Specific Immunoliposome-Encapsulated Doxorubicin in the Treatmentof Experimental Visceral Leishmaniasis
A parasite-specific 51-kDa protein has been isolated from the membrane of macrophages infected with Leishmania
donovani, the causative agent of visceral leishmaniasis. Active targeting of doxorubicin to infected macrophages was studied by incorporating it in immunoliposomes prepared by grafting F(ab)�2 of anti–51-kDa antibody onto the liposomal surface. In a 45-day mouse model of visceral leishmaniasis, complete elimination of spleen parasite burden was achieved by doxorubicin incorporated in immunoliposome (immunodoxosome) at a dose of 250 mg/kg/day that was given for 4 consecutive days. A similar dose of free and
liposomal drug (doxosome) had 45% and 84% parasite suppressive effects, respectively. Immunodoxosome and doxosome were generally less toxic than the free drug, as determined by several clinical parameters of cardiotoxicity and liver toxicity. These results not only indicate the potential of doxorubicin as an effective chemotherapeutic agent but also establish the use of immunoliposomes as drug carrier in the therapy of leishmaniasis