scholarly journals The Demonstration of an Aqp4/Tgf-Beta 1 Pathway in Murine Astrocytes Holds Implications for Both Neuromyelitis Optica and Progressive Multiple Sclerosis

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 1035 ◽  
Author(s):  
Serge Nataf

The role exerted by Aquaporin 4 (AQP4) as a regulator of astrocyte immune functions has been poorly explored. A recent report demonstrates that under neuroinflammatory conditions, the expression of Aqp4 on murine astrocytes is mandatory for the effective control of acute inflammation in the central nervous system. Such an immunomodulatory function appears to be mediated by a promotion of the transforming growth factor beta 1 (Tgfb1) pathway. Here, these results are discussed in the context of neuromyelitis optica (NMO) and multiple sclerosis (MS) progressive forms. It is proposed that NMO and progressive MS might rely on opposite molecular mechanisms involving, in NMO, an acutely-defective AQP4/TGFB1 pathway and, in progressive MS, a chronically-stimulated AQP4/TGFB1 pathway. Data supporting the involvement of angiotensin II as a molecular link between AQP4 and TGFB1 are also reviewed.

Biomolecules ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 453
Author(s):  
Susana M. Chuva de Sousa Lopes ◽  
Marta S. Alexdottir ◽  
Gudrun Valdimarsdottir

Emerging data suggest that a trophoblast stem cell (TSC) population exists in the early human placenta. However, in vitro stem cell culture models are still in development and it remains under debate how well they reflect primary trophoblast (TB) cells. The absence of robust protocols to generate TSCs from humans has resulted in limited knowledge of the molecular mechanisms that regulate human placental development and TB lineage specification when compared to other human embryonic stem cells (hESCs). As placentation in mouse and human differ considerably, it is only with the development of human-based disease models using TSCs that we will be able to understand the various diseases caused by abnormal placentation in humans, such as preeclampsia. In this review, we summarize the knowledge on normal human placental development, the placental disease preeclampsia, and current stem cell model systems used to mimic TB differentiation. A special focus is given to the transforming growth factor-beta (TGFβ) family as it has been shown that the TGFβ family has an important role in human placental development and disease.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ellen F. Mosleth ◽  
Christian Alexander Vedeler ◽  
Kristian Hovde Liland ◽  
Anette McLeod ◽  
Gerd Haga Bringeland ◽  
...  

AbstractDespite intensive research, the aetiology of multiple sclerosis (MS) remains unknown. Cerebrospinal fluid proteomics has the potential to reveal mechanisms of MS pathogenesis, but analyses must account for disease heterogeneity. We previously reported explorative multivariate analysis by hierarchical clustering of proteomics data of MS patients and controls, which resulted in two groups of individuals. Grouping reflected increased levels of intrathecal inflammatory response proteins and decreased levels of proteins involved in neural development in one group relative to the other group. MS patients and controls were present in both groups. Here we reanalysed these data and we also reanalysed data from an independent cohort of patients diagnosed with clinically isolated syndrome (CIS), who have symptoms of MS without evidence of dissemination in space and/or time. Some, but not all, CIS patients had intrathecal inflammation. The analyses reported here identified a common protein signature of MS/CIS that was not linked to elevated intrathecal inflammation. The signature included low levels of complement proteins, semaphorin-7A, reelin, neural cell adhesion molecules, inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor heavy chain H2, transforming growth factor beta 1, follistatin-related protein 1, malate dehydrogenase 1 cytoplasmic, plasma retinol-binding protein, biotinidase, and transferrin, all known to play roles in neural development. Low levels of these proteins suggest that MS/CIS patients suffer from abnormally low oxidative capacity that results in disrupted neural development from an early stage of the disease.


2017 ◽  
Vol 16 (03) ◽  
pp. 164-170
Author(s):  
Rachel Gottlieb-Smith ◽  
Amy Waldman

AbstractAcquired demyelinating syndromes (ADS) present with acute or subacute monofocal or polyfocal neurologic deficits localizing to the central nervous system. The clinical features of distinct ADS have been carefully characterized including optic neuritis, transverse myelitis, and acute disseminated encephalomyelitis. These disorders may all be monophasic disorders. Alternatively, optic neuritis, partial transverse myelitis, and acute disseminated encephalomyelitis may be first presentations of a relapsing or polyphasic neuroinflammatory disorder, such as multiple sclerosis or neuromyelitis optica. The clinical features of these disorders and the differential diagnosis are discussed in this article.


2008 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 37-44
Author(s):  
L. M. Ogorodova ◽  
O. S. Fyodorova ◽  
M. B. Freidin ◽  
M. B. Vasil’yeva ◽  
N. A. Cherevko ◽  
...  

To elucidate the molecular mechanisms of O. felineus impact into phenotypic variability of allergic diseases in the opisthorchis endemic region, we studied 104 patients with opisthorchosis, 92 patients with atopic bronchial asthma, 52 patients with a combination of both diseases, and 120 healthy persons. Standard clinical, immunological, and genetic methods were used. An association of opisthorchis invasion with the improvement of lung function signs and bronchial hyperreactivity was found. It was established, that IL-4-dependent mechanisms of atopy were suppressed by O. felineus antigens, in particular due to hyperproduction of IL-10 and transforming growth factor-beta. However, IL-5-dependant mechanisms were supported. A phenomenology of the cytokine gene differential expression was established, disclosing the molecular basis of the immune system function in diseases with polar immune response in the helminth endemic region.


Open Biology ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 3 (6) ◽  
pp. 130067 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gopal P. Sapkota

The signalling pathways downstream of the transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ) family of cytokines play critical roles in all aspects of cellular homeostasis. The phosphorylation and activation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) has been implicated in TGFβ-induced epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and apoptosis. The precise molecular mechanisms by which TGFβ cytokines induce the phosphorylation and activation of p38 MAPK are unclear. In this study, I demonstrate that TGFβ-activated kinase 1 (TAK1/MAP3K7) does not play a role in the TGFβ-induced phosphorylation and activation of p38 MAPK in MEFs and HaCaT keratinocytes. Instead, RNAi -mediated depletion of MAP3K4 and MAP3K10 results in the inhibition of the TGFβ-induced p38 MAPK phosphorylation. Furthermore, the depletion of MAP3K10 from cells homozygously knocked-in with a catalytically inactive mutant of MAP3K4 completely abolishes the TGFβ-induced phosphorylation of p38 MAPK, implying that among MAP3Ks, MAP3K4 and MAP3K10 are sufficient for mediating the TGFβ-induced activation of p38 MAPK.


2009 ◽  
Vol 29 (21) ◽  
pp. 5941-5951 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuanrong Gao ◽  
Guan Yang ◽  
Tujun Weng ◽  
Juan Du ◽  
Xuejiu Wang ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Keratocystic odontogenic tumors (KCOTs) are cystic epithelial neoplasias with a high recurrence rate. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the initiation and progression of KCOTs are still largely unknown. Here, we show that specific ablation of Smad4 in odontoblasts unexpectedly resulted in spontaneous KCOTs in mice. The mutant mice exhibited malformed teeth characterized by fractured incisors and truncated molar roots. These abnormalities were mainly caused by disrupted odontoblast differentiation that led to irregular dentin formation. The cystic tumors arising from the reactivation of epithelial rests of Malassez (ERM), in which Smad4 remained intact, proliferated and formed stratified and differentiated squamous epithelia that exhibited a dramatic upregulation of Hedgehog signaling. Odontoblasts, which are responsive to transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β)/bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signals, may produce signal molecules to inhibit the activation of ERM. Indeed, we observed a downregulation of BMP signals from Smad4 mutant odontoblasts to the adjacent Hertwig's epithelial root sheath (HERS). Intriguingly, KCOTs frequently emerged from Smad4-deficient ERM in keratinocyte-specific Smad4 knockout mice, suggesting a novel mechanism in which reciprocal TGF-β/BMP signaling between odontoblasts and HERS was required for tooth root development and suppression of KCOT formation. These findings provide insight into the genetic basis underlying KCOTs and have important implications for new directions in KCOT treatment.


Cells ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (10) ◽  
pp. 1235 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tu ◽  
Huang ◽  
Huang ◽  
Luo ◽  
Yan

Primary liver cancer is one of the leading causes for cancer-related death worldwide. Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) is a pleiotropic cytokine that signals through membrane receptors and intracellular Smad proteins, which enter the nucleus upon receptor activation and act as transcription factors. TGF-β inhibits liver tumorigenesis in the early stage by inducing cytostasis and apoptosis, but promotes malignant progression in more advanced stages by enhancing cancer cell survival, EMT, migration, invasion and finally metastasis. Understanding the molecular mechanisms underpinning the multi-faceted roles of TGF-β in liver cancer has become a persistent pursuit during the last two decades. Contextual regulation fine-tunes the robustness, duration and plasticity of TGF-β signaling, yielding versatile albeit specific responses. This involves multiple feedback and feed-forward regulatory loops and also the interplay between Smad signaling and non-Smad pathways. This review summarizes the known regulatory mechanisms of TGF-β signaling in liver cancer, and how they channel, skew and even switch the actions of TGF-β during cancer progression.


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (8) ◽  
pp. 2735 ◽  
Author(s):  
Enaam Chleilat ◽  
Abhishek Pethe ◽  
Dietmar Pfeifer ◽  
Kerstin Krieglstein ◽  
Eleni Roussa

Calcium homeostasis is a cellular process required for proper cell function and survival, maintained by the coordinated action of several transporters, among them members of the Na+/Ca2+-exchanger family, such as SLC8A3. Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) signaling defines neuronal development and survival and may regulate the expression of channels and transporters. We investigated the regulation of SLC8A3 by TGF-β in a conditional knockout mouse with deletion of TGF-β signaling from Engrailed 1-expressing cells, i.e., in cells from the midbrain and rhombomere 1, and elucidated the underlying molecular mechanisms. The results show that SLC8A3 is significantly downregulated in developing dopaminergic and dorsal raphe serotonergic neurons in mutants and that low SLC8A3 abundance prevents the expression of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-xL. TGF-β signaling affects SLC8A3 via the canonical and p38 signaling pathway and may increase the binding of Smad4 to the Slc8a3 promoter. Expression of the lipid peroxidation marker malondialdehyde (MDA) was increased following knockdown of Slc8a3 expression in vitro. In neurons lacking TGF-β signaling, the number of MDA- and 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE)-positive cells was significantly increased, accompanied with increased cellular 4-HNE abundance. These results suggest that TGF-β contributes to the regulation of SLC8A3 expression in developing dopaminergic and dorsal raphe serotonergic neurons, thereby preventing oxidative stress.


2016 ◽  
Vol 64 (3) ◽  
pp. 817.3-818
Author(s):  
I Shapira ◽  
R Huffman ◽  
E Neculiseanu ◽  
A Banavali ◽  
K Guddati ◽  
...  

Purpose of StudyOver 240,000 individuals are diagnosed with breast cancer each year in the USA. Outcomes depend on DNA deregulations in tumors. Carriers of deleterious BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations are predisposed to 30 fold higher lifetime risks of breast and ovarian cancer.Aims:1. To check for differences in SNPs of genomic DNA obtained in BRCA+/− with and without BrCa.2. Analyze correlates of molecular mechanisms occurring in BRCA mutant patients.Methods UsedWe analyzed 94 subjects (41 BRCA positive) with or without BrCa to detect SNPs whose expression is significantly differentially expressed between breast cancer and controls. DNA samples were extracted from PBMCs. Samples were measured for DNA concentration using an Invitrogen QuBit Fluorometer, and diluted to 50 ng/µL.All samples were collected between 2010 and 2014 and survival data was known in all cancer patients. Processed samples were sequenced using an Illumina MiSeq Sequencer with a 300 cycle kit to detect SNPs. Variant Call Files were analyzed in Microsoft Excel using Fisher's Exact Test.Summary of ResultsALK SNPs were commonly found in cancer relative to control. Significant associations of ALK SNPs were seen in BRCA mutation subjects. ALK protein was overexpressed in 47% of BRCA mutations cases, which was significantly higher than in non-BRCA cases. Our results show that the ALK signaling pathway possibly is more common in early onset of breast cancer as seen with BRCA mutations. Coremine analysis showed SNPs identified in cancer were most commonly associated with deregulation of Transforming Growth Factor-Beta Superfamily protein synthesis and binding function.ConclusionsDifferences in the associations of the modifying polymorphisms with BrCarisk for BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers are likely to reflect differences in the biology of tumor development in these two groups of women at high risk of breast cancer. The identification of modifying polymorphisms could therefore lead to a better understanding of the etiology of tumors in mutation carriers and also to the development of effective and more specific therapies for BrCa in mutation carriers.


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