Zinc finger BED-type containing 3 promotes hepatic steatosis by interacting with polypyrimidine tract-binding protein 1.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: The relationship between metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and type 2 diabetes mellitus, insulin resistance and the metabolic syndrome is well established. While zinc finger BED-type containing 3 (ZBED3) has been linked to type 2 diabetes mellitus and the metabolic syndrome, its role in MASLD remains unclear. In this study, we aimed to investigate the function of ZBED3 in the context of MASLD. METHODS: Expression levels of ZBED3 were assessed in individuals with MASLD, as well as in cellular and animal models of MASLD. In vitro and in vivo analyses were conducted using a cellular model of MASLD induced by NEFA and an animal model of MASLD induced by a high-fat diet (HFD), respectively, to investigate the role of ZBED3 in MASLD. ZBED3 expression was increased by lentiviral infection or tail-vein injection of adeno-associated virus. RNA-seq and bioinformatics analysis were employed to examine the pathways through which ZBED3 modulates lipid accumulation. Findings from these next-generation transcriptome sequencing studies indicated that ZBED3 controls SREBP1c (also known as SREBF1; a gene involved in fatty acid de novo synthesis); thus, co-immunoprecipitation and LC-MS/MS were utilised to investigate the molecular mechanisms by which ZBED3 regulates the sterol regulatory element binding protein 1c (SREBP1c). RESULTS: In this study, we found that ZBED3 was significantly upregulated in the liver of individuals with MASLD and in MASLD animal models. ZBED3 overexpression promoted NEFA-induced triglyceride accumulation in hepatocytes in vitro. Furthermore, the hepatocyte-specific overexpression of Zbed3 promoted hepatic steatosis. Conversely, the hepatocyte-specific knockout of Zbed3 resulted in resistance of HFD-induced hepatic steatosis. Mechanistically, ZBED3 interacts directly with polypyrimidine tract-binding protein 1 (PTBP1) and affects its binding to the SREBP1c mRNA precursor to regulate SREBP1c mRNA stability and alternative splicing. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: This study indicates that ZBED3 promotes hepatic steatosis and serves as a critical regulator of the progression of MASLD. DATA AVAILABILITY: RNA-seq data have been deposited in the NCBI Gene Expression Omnibus ( www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/geo/query/acc.cgi?acc=GSE231875 ). MS proteomics data have been deposited to the ProteomeXchange Consortium via the iProX partner repository ( https://proteomecentral.proteomexchange.org/cgi/GetDataset?ID=PXD041743 ).

Regulatory T cells differentiation in visceral adipose tissues contributes to insulin resistance by regulating JAZF-1/PPAR-γ pathway.

Regulatory T cell (Treg) activity and differentiation in visceral adipose tissue (VAT) play an important role in inhibiting chronic inflammation and insulin resistance. Whether JAZF-1 and PPAR-γ mediate VAT Treg differentiation to promote the inhibition of chronic inflammation and insulin resistance remains unclear. Here, we investigated the roles of JAZF-1 and PPAR-γ in VAT Treg differentiation, inflammation and insulin resistance using a transgenic mouse model. First, we determined that the levels of glucose and insulin biochemical markers in the JAZF-1 transgenic general feeding or high-fat groups were lower than those in the wild-type general feeding or high-fat groups. Second, the levels of CD4+ , CD25+ , and FOXP3+ differentiation markers in the JAZF-1 transgenic general feeding or high-fat groups were significantly higher than those in the wild-type groups. PPAR-γ inhibition was associated with low levels of CD4+ , CD25+ and FOXP3+ differentiation markers. Third, the levels of TNF-α, IL-1ß and IL-6 in the JAZF-1 transgenic groups were lower than those in the wild-type groups, whereas IL-10 and TGF-ß levels were higher in the JAZF-1 transgenic groups than in the wild-type groups. After using the PPAR-γ inhibitor, we observed that TNF-α, IL-1ß and IL-6 increased, while IL-10 and TGF-ß decreased. We found that JAZF-1 and PPAR-γ could promote Tregs differentiation and regulate insulin resistance by synergistically decreasing the expression levels of TNF-α, IL-1ß and IL-6 and increasing those of IL-10 and TGF-ß.

Osteoprotegerin deficiency aggravates methionine-choline-deficient diet-induced nonalcoholic steatohepatitis in mice.

Clinical studies have shown that osteoprotegerin (OPG) is reduced in patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), but the underlying mechanisms are unclear. The current study focuses on the role of OPG in the NASH pathogenesis. OPG knockout mice and wild-type control mice fed a methionine choline-deficient diet (MCD) for 4 weeks resulted in an animal model of NASH. Measurement of triglycerides (TG) in serum and liver to assess steatosis. Hematoxylin eosin (HE), Sirius Red and Masson staining were used to assess the liver damage. Transcriptome sequencing analysis, qPCR and western blot were to analyze changes in lipid metabolism and inflammation-related indicators in the liver. In vivo knockout of OPG resulted in a reduction of TG levels in the liver and a significant increase in serum ALT and AST. The expression of inflammatory factors and fibrosis genes was significantly upregulated in the livers of OPG knockout mice. Transcriptome sequencing analysis showed that OPG knockout significantly enhanced MCD diet-induced activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway. Mechanistically, OPG may inhibit MAPK signaling pathway activity by upregulating the expression of dual specificity phosphatase 14 (DUSP14), thereby reducing inflammatory injury. OPG could regulate the activity of the MAPK signaling pathway via DUSP14, thus regulating the expression of some inflammatory factors in NASH, it may be a promising target for the treatment of NASH.

Effects of Adenovirus-Mediated Overexpression of JAZF1 on Chronic Inflammation: An In Vitro and In Vivo Study.

BACKGROUND Insulin sensitivity and inflammation can be affected by juxtaposition with another zinc finger gene 1 (JAZF1), but its precise role in chronic inflammation is unclear. In this study, JAZF1-overexpression adenovirus plasmids were transfected into macrophages, CD4⁺ T cells, and C57BL/6J mice to assess the role of JAZF1 in chronic inflammation. MATERIAL AND METHODS JAZF1 was cloned into an adenovirus skeleton plasmid and transfected in HEK293 cells to package and enrich the virus particles. In vitro, the JAZF1 overexpression adenovirus vector (PAD-JAZF1) was cultured with peritoneal macrophages and peripheral blood CD4⁺ T cells of C57BL/6J mice, and samples were evaluated using flow cytometry. In vivo, PAD-JAZF1 was introduced into C57BL/6J mice, and livers were collected to evaluate factors related to inflammation by hematoxylin & eosin and immunohistochemical staining. RESULTS In vitro, PAD-JAZF1 decreased total macrophages, CD11c⁺ macrophages, and the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines, but increased CD206⁺ macrophages. It also decreased total CD4⁺T cells, active T cells, memory T cells, and the secretion of IL-6, IL-10, and IFN-γ, but increased Treg cells and restrictive T cells. In vivo, compared to those in the control group transfected with the adenovirus skeleton vector, mice transfected with the PAD-JAZF1 recombinant adenovirus had fewer CD11c⁺ ATMs and CD4⁺ T cells, lower levels of TNF-alpha and IL-6, and higher IL-10 concentrations in the liver. CONCLUSIONS These findings indicate that JAZF1 limits chronic inflammation by reducing macrophage and CD4⁺T cell populations, altering subtype differentiation, and regulating the secretion of immune-related factors.

Antibody responses to SARS-CoV-2 in patients with COVID-19.

We report acute antibody responses to SARS-CoV-2 in 285 patients with COVID-19. Within 19 days after symptom onset, 100% of patients tested positive for antiviral immunoglobulin-G (IgG). Seroconversion for IgG and IgM occurred simultaneously or sequentially. Both IgG and IgM titers plateaued within 6 days after seroconversion. Serological testing may be helpful for the diagnosis of suspected patients with negative RT-PCR results and for the identification of asymptomatic infections.

A Peptide-Based Magnetic Chemiluminescence Enzyme Immunoassay for Serological Diagnosis of Coronavirus Disease 2019.

BACKGROUND: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), a novel ß-coronavirus, causes severe pneumonia and has spread throughout the globe rapidly. The disease associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection is named coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). To date, real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) is the only test able to confirm this infection. However, the accuracy of RT-PCR depends on several factors; variations in these factors might significantly lower the sensitivity of detection. METHODS: In this study, we developed a peptide-based luminescent immunoassay that detected immunoglobulin (Ig)G and IgM. The assay cutoff value was determined by evaluating the sera from healthy and infected patients for pathogens other than SARS-CoV-2. RESULTS: To evaluate assay performance, we detected IgG and IgM in the sera from confirmed patients. The positive rate of IgG and IgM was 71.4% and 57.2%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Therefore, combining our immunoassay with real-time RT-PCR might enhance the diagnostic accuracy of COVID-19.

Fluorometric detection of silver(I) using cytosine-Ag(I)-cytosine pair formation, DNA assembly and the AND logic operation of a multiple-component DNAzyme.

A nonenzymatic fluorometric assay is described for highly sensitive and selective detection of silver ion. It is making use of a controlled DNA assembly and an AND logic operation of a multiple-component DNAzyme (MNAzyme). It corresponds to an Ag(I)-responsive three-way junction (3-WJ) assembly. The tailored probes of the 3-WJ architecture were designed with complementary domains for subsequent assembly. Cytosine (C)-cytosine mismatches at one-way junction were set as the sensing element for Ag(I). Upon exposure to Ag(I) as an input, C-Ag(I)-C pairs are being formed. This enhances the binding energy between these separate probes and thus promotes the formation of a nanostructure that represents an AND logic assembly of MNAzyme with an amplified output signal. This results in an Ag(I)-induced increase in fluorescence which is measured best at excitation/emission maxima of 645/670 nm. The method displays high selectivity and sensitivity, has a 5 pM detection limit at 3σ and a dynamic range that extends from 10 pM to 100 nM. Graphical abstract Schematic presentation of a new fluorescence system for determining silver ion by making use of cytosine-Ag(I)-cytosine pair formation, precisely-controlled DNA assembly and "AND" logic operation of multiple components DNAzyme (MNAzyme).

A high-current microwave ion source with permanent magnet and its beam emittance measurement.

The progress of a 2.45 GHz high-current microwave ion source with permanent magnet for T(d,n)4He reaction neutron generator is reported in this paper. At 600 W microwave power and 22 kV extraction voltage, 90 mA peak hydrogen ion beam is extracted from a single aperture of 6 mm diameter. The beam emittance is measured using a simplified pepper-pot method. The (x,x(')) emittance and the (y,y(')) emittance for 14 keV hydrogen ion beam are 55.3pi and 58.2pi mm mrad, respectively. The normalized emittances are 0.302pi and 0.317pi mm mrad, respectively.