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Physiological Reviews Jul 2024Parturition is a complex physiological process that must occur in a reliable manner and at an appropriate gestation stage to ensure a healthy newborn and mother. To this... (Review)
Review
Parturition is a complex physiological process that must occur in a reliable manner and at an appropriate gestation stage to ensure a healthy newborn and mother. To this end, hormones that affect the function of the gravid uterus, especially progesterone (P4), 17β-estradiol (E), oxytocin (OT), and prostaglandins (PGs), play pivotal roles. P4 via the nuclear P4 receptor (PR) promotes uterine quiescence and for most of pregnancy exerts a dominant block to labor. Loss of the P4 block to parturition in association with a gain in prolabor actions of E are key transitions in the hormonal cascade leading to parturition. P4 withdrawal can occur through various mechanisms depending on species and physiological context. Parturition in most species involves inflammation within the uterine tissues and especially at the maternal-fetal interface. Local PGs and other inflammatory mediators may initiate parturition by inducing P4 withdrawal. Withdrawal of the P4 block is coordinated with increased E actions to enhance uterotonic signals mediated by OT and PGs to promote uterine contractions, cervix softening, and membrane rupture, i.e., labor. This review examines recent advances in research to understand the hormonal control of parturition, with focus on the roles of P4, E, PGs, OT, inflammatory cytokines, and placental peptide hormones together with evolutionary biology of and implications for clinical management of human parturition.
Topics: Parturition; Humans; Female; Pregnancy; Animals; Progesterone; Oxytocin; Uterus; Prostaglandins; Estradiol
PubMed: 38329421
DOI: 10.1152/physrev.00019.2023 -
Cell Reports Feb 2024Elevated interleukin (IL)-1β levels, NLRP3 inflammasome activity, and systemic inflammation are hallmarks of chronic metabolic inflammatory syndromes, but the...
Elevated interleukin (IL)-1β levels, NLRP3 inflammasome activity, and systemic inflammation are hallmarks of chronic metabolic inflammatory syndromes, but the mechanistic basis for this is unclear. Here, we show that levels of plasma IL-1β are lower in fasting compared to fed subjects, while the lipid arachidonic acid (AA) is elevated. Lipid profiling of NLRP3-stimulated mouse macrophages shows enhanced AA production and an NLRP3-dependent eicosanoid signature. Inhibition of cyclooxygenase by nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs decreases eicosanoid, but not AA, production. It also reduces both IL-1β and IL-18 production in response to NLRP3 activation. AA inhibits NLRP3 inflammasome activity in human and mouse macrophages. Mechanistically, AA inhibits phospholipase C activity to reduce JNK1 stimulation and hence NLRP3 activity. These data show that AA is an important physiological regulator of the NLRP3 inflammasome and explains why fasting reduces systemic inflammation and also suggests a mechanism to explain how nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs work.
Topics: Animals; Mice; Humans; Inflammasomes; NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein; Arachidonic Acid; Inflammation; Interleukin-1beta; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; Eicosanoids; Fasting
PubMed: 38265935
DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.113700 -
Nature May 2024Expansion of antigen-experienced CD8 T cells is critical for the success of tumour-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL)-adoptive cell therapy (ACT) in patients with cancer....
Expansion of antigen-experienced CD8 T cells is critical for the success of tumour-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL)-adoptive cell therapy (ACT) in patients with cancer. Interleukin-2 (IL-2) acts as a key regulator of CD8 cytotoxic T lymphocyte functions by promoting expansion and cytotoxic capability. Therefore, it is essential to comprehend mechanistic barriers to IL-2 sensing in the tumour microenvironment to implement strategies to reinvigorate IL-2 responsiveness and T cell antitumour responses. Here we report that prostaglandin E2 (PGE), a known negative regulator of immune response in the tumour microenvironment, is present at high concentrations in tumour tissue from patients and leads to impaired IL-2 sensing in human CD8 TILs via the PGE receptors EP2 and EP4. Mechanistically, PGE inhibits IL-2 sensing in TILs by downregulating the IL-2Rγ chain, resulting in defective assembly of IL-2Rβ-IL2Rγ membrane dimers. This results in impaired IL-2-mTOR adaptation and PGC1α transcriptional repression, causing oxidative stress and ferroptotic cell death in tumour-reactive TILs. Inhibition of PGE signalling to EP2 and EP4 during TIL expansion for ACT resulted in increased IL-2 sensing, leading to enhanced proliferation of tumour-reactive TILs and enhanced tumour control once the cells were transferred in vivo. Our study reveals fundamental features that underlie impairment of human TILs mediated by PGE in the tumour microenvironment. These findings have therapeutic implications for cancer immunotherapy and cell therapy, and enable the development of targeted strategies to enhance IL-2 sensing and amplify the IL-2 response in TILs, thereby promoting the expansion of effector T cells with enhanced therapeutic potential.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Mice; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes; Cell Proliferation; Dinoprostone; Down-Regulation; Ferroptosis; Interleukin Receptor Common gamma Subunit; Interleukin-2; Interleukin-2 Receptor beta Subunit; Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating; Mitochondria; Oxidative Stress; Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Gamma Coactivator 1-alpha; Receptors, Prostaglandin E, EP2 Subtype; Receptors, Prostaglandin E, EP4 Subtype; Signal Transduction; TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases; Tumor Microenvironment
PubMed: 38658764
DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07352-w -
JCI Insight Dec 2023Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic parenchymal lung disease characterized by repetitive alveolar cell injury, myofibroblast proliferation, and excessive...
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic parenchymal lung disease characterized by repetitive alveolar cell injury, myofibroblast proliferation, and excessive extracellular matrix deposition for which unmet need persists for effective therapeutics. The bioactive eicosanoid, prostaglandin F2α, and its cognate receptor FPr (Ptgfr) are implicated as a TGF-β1-independent signaling hub for IPF. To assess this, we leveraged our published murine PF model (IER-SftpcI73T) expressing a disease-associated missense mutation in the surfactant protein C (Sftpc) gene. Tamoxifen-treated IER-SftpcI73T mice developed an early multiphasic alveolitis and transition to spontaneous fibrotic remodeling by 28 days. IER-SftpcI73T mice crossed to a Ptgfr-null (FPr-/-) line showed attenuated weight loss and gene dosage-dependent rescue of mortality compared with FPr+/+ cohorts. IER-SftpcI73T/FPr-/- mice also showed reductions in multiple fibrotic endpoints for which administration of nintedanib was not additive. Single-cell RNA-Seq, pseudotime analysis, and in vitro assays demonstrated Ptgfr expression predominantly within adventitial fibroblasts, which were reprogrammed to an "inflammatory/transitional" cell state in a PGF2α /FPr-dependent manner. Collectively, the findings provide evidence for a role for PGF2α signaling in IPF, mechanistically identify a susceptible fibroblast subpopulation, and establish a benchmark effect size for disruption of this pathway in mitigating fibrotic lung remodeling.
Topics: Mice; Animals; Dinoprost; Fibroblasts; Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis; Fibrosis; Population Dynamics
PubMed: 37934604
DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.172977 -
Pharmacology & Therapeutics Aug 2023Cancer is a major burden of disease worldwide and increasing evidence shows that inflammation contributes to cancer development and progression. Eicosanoids are derived... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Cancer is a major burden of disease worldwide and increasing evidence shows that inflammation contributes to cancer development and progression. Eicosanoids are derived from dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids, such as arachidonic acid (AA), and are mainly produced by a series of enzymatic pathways that include cyclooxygenase (COX), lipoxygenase (LOX), and cytochrome P-450 epoxygenase (CYP). Eicosanoids consist of at least several hundred individual molecules and play important roles in the inflammatory response and inflammation-related cancers.
SCOPE AND APPROACH
Dietary sources of AA and biosynthesis of eicosanoids from AA through different metabolic pathways are summarized. The bioactivities of eicosanoids and their potential molecular mechanisms on inflammation and cancer are revealed. Additionally, current challenges and limitations in eicosanoid research on inflammation-related cancer are discussed.
KEY FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS
Dietary AA generates a large variety of eicosanoids, including prostaglandins, thromboxane A2, leukotrienes, cysteinyl leukotrienes, lipoxins, hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids (HETEs), and epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs). Eicosanoids exert different bioactivities and mechanisms involved in the inflammation and related cancer developments. A deeper understanding of eicosanoid biology may be advantageous in cancer treatment and help to define cellular targets for further therapeutic development.
Topics: Humans; Eicosanoids; Arachidonic Acid; Neoplasms; Leukotrienes; Inflammation; Cyclooxygenase 2
PubMed: 37257760
DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2023.108455 -
Cell Death & Disease Oct 2023Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a clinical syndrome with high morbidity and mortality but no specific therapy. Microsomal prostaglandin E synthase-2 (mPGES-2) is a PGE...
Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a clinical syndrome with high morbidity and mortality but no specific therapy. Microsomal prostaglandin E synthase-2 (mPGES-2) is a PGE synthase but can metabolize PGH to malondialdehyde by forming a complex with heme. However, the role and mechanism of action of mPGES-2 in AKI remain unclear. To examine the role of mPGES-2, both global and tubule-specific mPGES-2-deficient mice were treated with cisplatin to induce AKI. mPGES-2 knockdown or overexpressing HK-2 cells were exposed to cisplatin to cause acute renal tubular cell injury. The mPGES-2 inhibitor SZ0232 was used to test the translational potential of targeting mPGES-2 in treating AKI. Additionally, mice were subjected to unilateral renal ischemia/reperfusion to further validate the effect of mPGES-2 on AKI. Interestingly, both genetic and pharmacological blockage of mPGES-2 led to decreased renal dysfunction and morphological damage induced by cisplatin and unilateral renal ischemia/reperfusion. Mechanistic exploration indicated that mPGES-2 deficiency inhibited ferroptosis via the heme-dependent regulation of the p53/SLC7A11/GPX4 axis. The present study indicates that mPGES-2 blockage may be a promising therapeutic strategy for AKI.
Topics: Animals; Mice; Acute Kidney Injury; Cisplatin; Ferroptosis; Heme; Ischemia; Prostaglandin-E Synthases; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53
PubMed: 37907523
DOI: 10.1038/s41419-023-06236-7 -
Prostaglandins & Other Lipid Mediators Aug 2023The brain, one of the most resilient organs of the body is highly enriched in lipid content, suggesting the essential role of lipids in brain physiological activities.... (Review)
Review
The brain, one of the most resilient organs of the body is highly enriched in lipid content, suggesting the essential role of lipids in brain physiological activities. Lipids constitute an important structural part of the brain and act as a rich source of metabolic energy. Besides, lipids in their bioactive form (known as bioactive lipids) play an essential signaling and regulatory role, facilitating neurogenesis, synaptogenesis, and cell-cell communication. Brain lipid metabolism is thus a tightly regulated process. Any alteration/dysregulation of lipid metabolism greatly impact brain health and activity. Moreover, since central nervous system (CNS) is the most metabolically active system and lacks an efficient antioxidative defence system, it acts as a hub for the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and subsequent lipid peroxidation. These peroxidation events are reported during pathological changes such as neuronal tissue injury and inflammation. Present review is a modest attempt to gain insights into the role of dysregulated bioactive lipid levels and lipid oxidation status in the pathogenesis and progression of neurodegenerative disorders. This may open up new avenues exploiting lipids as the therapeutic targets for improving brain health, and treatment of nervous system disorders.
Topics: Humans; Brain Diseases; Central Nervous System; Brain; Reactive Oxygen Species; Lipid Peroxidation; Lipids; Oxidative Stress
PubMed: 37086954
DOI: 10.1016/j.prostaglandins.2023.106737 -
Journal of Cellular Biochemistry Aug 2023EP1 receptor belongs to prostanoid receptors and is activated by prostaglandin E2. The receptor performs contrasting functions in central nervous system (CNS) and other... (Review)
Review
EP1 receptor belongs to prostanoid receptors and is activated by prostaglandin E2. The receptor performs contrasting functions in central nervous system (CNS) and other tissues. Although the receptor is neurotoxic and proapoptotic in CNS, it has also been reported to act in an antiapoptotic manner by modulating cell survival, proliferation, invasion, and migration in different types of cancers. The receptor mediates its neurotoxic effects by increasing cytosolic Ca levels, leading to the activation of its downstream target, protein kinase C, in different neurological disorders including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, stroke, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and epilepsy. Antagonists ONO-8713, SC51089, and SC51322 against EP1 receptor ameliorate the neurotoxic effect by attenuating the neuroinflammation. The receptor also shows increased expression in different types of cancers and has been found to activate different signaling pathways, which lead to the development, progression, and metastasis of different cancers. The receptor stimulates the cell survival pathway by phosphorylating the AKT and PTEN (phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome 10) signaling pathways. Although there are limited studies about this receptor and not a single clinical trial has been targeting the EP1 receptor for different neurological disorders or cancer, the receptor is appearing as a potential candidate for therapeutic targets. The aim of this article is to review the recent progress in understanding the pathogenic roles of EP1 receptors in different pathological conditions.
Topics: Receptors, Prostaglandin E, EP1 Subtype; Signal Transduction; Protein Kinase C
PubMed: 37450673
DOI: 10.1002/jcb.30436 -
Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy =... Dec 2023Inflammation is a protective response of the body potentially caused by microbial, viral, or fungal infections, tissue damage, or even autoimmune reactions. The cardinal... (Review)
Review
Inflammation is a protective response of the body potentially caused by microbial, viral, or fungal infections, tissue damage, or even autoimmune reactions. The cardinal signs of inflammation are consequences of immunological, biochemical, and physiological changes that trigger the release of pro-inflammatory chemical mediators at the local of the injured site thus, increasing blood flow, vascular permeability, and leukocyte recruitment. The aim of this study is to give an overview of the inflammatory process, focusing on chemical mediators. The literature review was based on a search of journals published between the years 2009 and 2023, regarding the role of major chemical mediators in the inflammatory process and current studies in pathogenesis, diagnosis, and therapy. Some of the recent contributions in the study of inflammatory pathologies and their mediators, including cytokines and chemokines, the kinin system, free radicals, nitric oxide, histamine, cell adhesion molecules, leukotrienes, prostaglandins and the complement system and their role in human health and chronic diseases.
Topics: Humans; Inflammation; Leukocytes; Cytokines; Prostaglandins; Histamine; Inflammation Mediators
PubMed: 37897973
DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.115764 -
Cell Reports Oct 2023Metastasis is the leading cause of high ovarian-cancer-related mortality worldwide. Three major processes constitute the whole metastatic cascade: invasion,...
Metastasis is the leading cause of high ovarian-cancer-related mortality worldwide. Three major processes constitute the whole metastatic cascade: invasion, intravasation, and extravasation. Tumor cells often reprogram their metabolism to gain advantages in proliferation and survival. However, whether and how those metabolic alterations contribute to the invasiveness of tumor cells has yet to be fully understood. Here we performed a genome-wide CRISPR-Cas9 screening to identify genes participating in tumor cell dissemination and revealed that PTGES3 acts as an invasion suppressor in ovarian cancer. Mechanistically, PTGES3 binds to phosphofructokinase, liver type (PFKL) and generates a local source of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) to allosterically inhibit the enzymatic activity of PFKL. Repressed PFKL leads to downgraded glycolysis and the subsequent TCA cycle for glucose metabolism. However, ovarian cancer suppresses the expression of PTGES3 and disrupts the PTGES3-PGE2-PFKL inhibitory axis, leading to hyperactivation of glucose oxidation, eventually facilitating ovarian cancer cell motility and invasiveness.
Topics: Humans; Female; Dinoprostone; Phosphofructokinases; Phosphofructokinase-1; Liver; Glucose; Ovarian Neoplasms; Cell Proliferation; Cell Line, Tumor; Neoplasm Invasiveness
PubMed: 37831605
DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.113246