The product of hexokinase (HK) enzymes, glucose-6-phosphate, can be metabolized through glycolysis or directed to alternative metabolic routes, such as the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) to generate ...anabolic intermediates. HK1 contains an N-terminal mitochondrial binding domain (MBD), but its physiologic significance remains unclear. To elucidate the effect of HK1 mitochondrial dissociation on cellular metabolism, we generated mice lacking the HK1 MBD (ΔE1HK1). These mice produced a hyper-inflammatory response when challenged with lipopolysaccharide. Additionally, there was decreased glucose flux below the level of GAPDH and increased upstream flux through the PPP. The glycolytic block below GAPDH is mediated by the binding of cytosolic HK1 with S100A8/A9, resulting in GAPDH nitrosylation through iNOS. Additionally, human and mouse macrophages from conditions of low-grade inflammation, such as aging and diabetes, displayed increased cytosolic HK1 and reduced GAPDH activity. Our data indicate that HK1 mitochondrial binding alters glucose metabolism through regulation of GAPDH.
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•HK1 mitochondrial dissociation results in GAPDH inhibition and increased PPP•Cytosolic HK1 increases macrophage-mediated inflammatory cytokine production•HK1 associates with S100A8/A9 and attenuates GAPDH activity through nitrosylation•Diabetic and aging immune cells show cytosolic HK1 and reduced GAPDH activity
De Jesus et al. describe how HK1 subcellular localization regulates the metabolic fate of its substrate, G6P, between catabolic and anabolic metabolism through inhibition of GAPDH. Immune cells from models of aging and diabetes show higher levels of cytosolic HK1 and increased inflammation.
Correct orchestration of nervous system development is a profound challenge that involves coordination of complex molecular and cellular processes. Mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling is ...a key regulator of nervous system development and synaptic function. The mTOR kinase is a hub for sensing inputs including growth factor signaling, nutrients and energy levels. Activation of mTOR signaling causes diseases with severe neurological manifestations, such as tuberous sclerosis complex and focal cortical dysplasia. However, the molecular mechanisms by which mTOR signaling regulates nervous system development and function are poorly understood. Unkempt is a conserved zinc finger/RING domain protein that regulates neurogenesis downstream of mTOR signaling in Drosophila. Unkempt also directly interacts with the mTOR complex I component Raptor. Here we describe the generation and characterisation of mice with a conditional knockout of Unkempt (Unk
) in the nervous system. Loss of Unkempt reduces Raptor protein levels in the embryonic nervous system but does not affect downstream mTORC1 targets. We also show that nervous system development occurs normally in Unk
mice. However, we find that Unkempt is expressed in the adult cerebellum and hippocampus and behavioural analyses show that Unk
mice have improved memory formation and cognitive flexibility to re-learn. Further understanding of the role of Unkempt in the nervous system will provide novel mechanistic insight into the role of mTOR signaling in learning and memory.
Mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) is a protein kinase that integrates multiple inputs to regulate anabolic cellular processes. For example, mTOR complex 1 (mTORC1) has key functions in growth ...control, autophagy, and metabolism. However, much less is known about the signaling components that act downstream of mTORC1 to regulate cellular morphogenesis. Here, we show that the RNA-binding protein Unkempt, a key regulator of cellular morphogenesis, is a novel substrate of mTORC1. We show that Unkempt phosphorylation is regulated by nutrient levels and growth factors via mTORC1. To analyze Unkempt phosphorylation, we immunoprecipitated Unkempt from cells in the presence or the absence of the mTORC1 inhibitor rapamycin and used mass spectrometry to identify mTORC1-dependent phosphorylated residues. This analysis showed that mTORC1-dependent phosphorylation is concentrated in a serine-rich intrinsically disordered region in the C-terminal half of Unkempt. We also found that Unkempt physically interacts with and is directly phosphorylated by mTORC1 through binding to the regulatory-associated protein of mTOR, Raptor. Furthermore, analysis in the developing brain of mice lacking TSC1 expression showed that phosphorylation of Unkempt is mTORC1 dependent in vivo. Finally, mutation analysis of key serine/threonine residues in the serine-rich region indicates that phosphorylation inhibits the ability of Unkempt to induce a bipolar morphology. Phosphorylation within this serine-rich region thus profoundly affects the ability of Unkempt to regulate cellular morphogenesis. Taken together, our findings reveal a novel molecular link between mTORC1 signaling and cellular morphogenesis.
The aims of the study were to (1) describe types of pain in cancer patients, (2) examine the predictors and consequences of pain, (3) investigate the association between type of pain and survival, ...and (4) examine potential biological mediators of pain and survival.
This was a secondary analysis of baseline data from patients diagnosed with cancer. Patients answered questionnaires that assessed sociodemographic characteristics, pain, depression, sleep, and fatigue. Blood was collected and cytokine assays were performed. Analysis of variance, Kaplan-Meier, and Cox regression survival analyses were used to test the aims.
Of the 779 patients diagnosed with cancer, the mean age was 63.5 years, 57.8% male, and 90.6% White. Of those who reported pain (total 70.3%), 46.5% stated their pain was cancer-related while 53.5% stated their pain was non-cancer-related. While both cancer and non-cancer-related pain was associated with depressive symptoms, fatigue, and sleep duration, those with cancer-related pain had significantly higher rates of depressive symptoms (F(1,516) = 21.217,
< 0.001) and fatigue (F(1,516) = 30.973,
< 0.001) but not poorer sleep (F(1,497) = 0.597,
= 0.440). After adjusting for sociodemographic, disease-related characteristics, depression, sleep duration, and morphine milligram equivalent, patient reports of cancer-related pain were significantly associated with poorer survival (HR = 0.646, 95% CI = 0.459-0.910,
= 0.012) compared to those with non-cancer-related pain, which was not associated with survival (HR = 1.022, 95% CI = 0.737-1.418,
= 0.896). Cytokines did not significantly mediate the link between pain and survival.
While nearly half of the pain reported was cancer-related, both types of pain resulted in greater symptom burden, but only cancer-related pain was associated with survival.
Calcifying fibrous pseudotumor of the mediastinum: a rare case report Chauhan, Kriti R; Shah, Hiral U; Trivedi, Priti P ...
Indian Journal of Pathology and Microbiology/Indian journal of pathology and microbiology,
2014 Jan-Mar, 2014-00-00, 20140101, 2014-01-01, Volume:
57, Issue:
1
Journal Article
To evaluate the prevalence of iron deficiency and its association with outcomes in children with heart failure.
A single-center retrospective cohort study of patients with heart failure aged ...1-21 years from July 2012 to June 2017 with available serum iron studies was performed. Subjects were analyzed in 2 groups: biventricular systolic heart failure (BiV) and single-ventricle congenital heart disease with systolic heart failure (SV). Iron deficiency was defined as ≥2 of the following: serum iron <50 μg/dL, serum ferritin <20 ng/mL, transferrin >300 ng/mL, or transferrin saturation <15%. The primary outcome was a composite adverse event (CAE) of ventricular assist device implantation, heart transplantation, or death, at 3 and 6 months from time of iron studies.
Of the 107 subjects (77 BiV, 30 SV) included in the study, 56% were iron deficient. Demographics, etiology of heart failure, and chronicity of heart failure symptoms were not associated with iron deficiency. On multivariable analysis, in group BiV, iron deficiency was associated with CAE at 3 months (79% iron deficiency in CAE group vs 37% iron deficiency in non-CAE, P = .001, OR 7, 95% CI 2-21) and 6 months (76% iron deficiency in CAE vs 35% iron deficiency in non-CAE, P = .002, OR 7, 95% CI 2-24). In group SV, iron deficiency was associated with CAE at 6 months (79% iron deficiency in CAE vs 29% iron deficiency in non-CAE, P = .014, OR 8, 95% CI 2-32).
Iron deficiency was present in 56% of the pediatric patients with heart failure who were evaluated with iron studies. Iron deficiency was associated with greater risk of ventricular assist device implantation, heart transplantation, or death.
Home to a culturally heterogeneous population, India is also a melting pot of genetic diversity. The population architecture characterized by multiple endogamous groups with specific marriage ...patterns, including the widely prevalent practice of consanguinity, not only makes the Indian population distinct from rest of the world but also provides a unique advantage and niche to understand genetic diseases. Centuries of genetic isolation of population groups have amplified the founder effects, contributing to high prevalence of recessive alleles, which translates into genetic diseases, including rare genetic diseases in India.Rare genetic diseases are becoming a public health concern in India because a large population size of close to a billion people would essentially translate to a huge disease burden for even the rarest of the rare diseases. Genomics-based approaches have been demonstrated to accelerate the diagnosis of rare genetic diseases and reduce the socio-economic burden. The Genomics for Understanding Rare Diseases: India Alliance Network (GUaRDIAN) stands for providing genomic solutions for rare diseases in India. The consortium aims to establish a unique collaborative framework in health care planning, implementation, and delivery in the specific area of rare genetic diseases. It is a nation-wide collaborative research initiative catering to rare diseases across multiple cohorts, with over 240 clinician/scientist collaborators across 70 major medical/research centers. Within the GUaRDIAN framework, clinicians refer rare disease patients, generate whole genome or exome datasets followed by computational analysis of the data for identifying the causal pathogenic variations. The outcomes of GUaRDIAN are being translated as community services through a suitable platform providing low-cost diagnostic assays in India. In addition to GUaRDIAN, several genomic investigations for diseased and healthy population are being undertaken in the country to solve the rare disease dilemma.In summary, rare diseases contribute to a significant disease burden in India. Genomics-based solutions can enable accelerated diagnosis and management of rare diseases. We discuss how a collaborative research initiative such as GUaRDIAN can provide a nation-wide framework to cater to the rare disease community of India.