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Journal of Physiological Investigation Jan 2024Oxytocin (OXT), a neuropeptide originating from the hypothalamus and traditionally associated with peripheral functions in parturition and lactation, has emerged as a... (Review)
Review
Oxytocin (OXT), a neuropeptide originating from the hypothalamus and traditionally associated with peripheral functions in parturition and lactation, has emerged as a pivotal player in the central regulation of the autonomic nervous system (ANS). This comprehensive ANS, comprising sympathetic, parasympathetic, and enteric components, intricately combines sympathetic and parasympathetic influences to provide unified control. The central oversight of sympathetic and parasympathetic outputs involves a network of interconnected regions spanning the neuroaxis, playing a pivotal role in the real-time regulation of visceral function, homeostasis, and adaptation to challenges. This review unveils the significant involvement of the central OXT system in modulating autonomic functions, shedding light on diverse subpopulations of OXT neurons within the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus and their intricate projections. The narrative progresses from the basics of central ANS regulation to a detailed discussion of the central controls of sympathetic and parasympathetic outflows. The subsequent segment focuses specifically on the central OXT system, providing a foundation for exploring the central role of OXT in ANS regulation. This review synthesizes current knowledge, paving the way for future research endeavors to unravel the full scope of autonomic control and understand multifaceted impact of OXT on physiological outcomes.
Topics: Oxytocin; Humans; Autonomic Nervous System; Animals
PubMed: 38780268
DOI: 10.4103/EJPI.EJPI-D-23-00037 -
Nature Communications May 2024Resolving inflammation is thought to return the affected tissue back to homoeostasis but recent evidence supports a non-linear model of resolution involving a phase of...
Resolving inflammation is thought to return the affected tissue back to homoeostasis but recent evidence supports a non-linear model of resolution involving a phase of prolonged immune activity. Here we show that within days following resolution of Streptococcus pneumoniae-triggered lung inflammation, there is an influx of antigen specific lymphocytes with a memory and tissue-resident phenotype as well as macrophages bearing alveolar or interstitial phenotype. The transcriptome of these macrophages shows enrichment of genes associated with prostaglandin biosynthesis and genes that drive T cell chemotaxis and differentiation. Therapeutic depletion of post-resolution macrophages, inhibition of prostaglandin E2 (PGE) synthesis or treatment with an EP4 antagonist, MF498, reduce numbers of lung CD4/CD44/CD62L and CD4/CD44/CD62L/CD27 T cells as well as their expression of the α-integrin, CD103. The T cells fail to reappear and reactivate upon secondary challenge for up to six weeks following primary infection. Concomitantly, EP4 antagonism through MF498 causes accumulation of lung macrophages and marked tissue fibrosis. Our study thus shows that PGE signalling, predominantly via EP4, plays an important role during the second wave of immune activity following resolution of inflammation. This secondary immune activation drives local tissue-resident T cell development while limiting tissue injury.
Topics: Animals; Pneumonia, Pneumococcal; Disease Models, Animal; Mice; Dinoprostone; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Streptococcus pneumoniae; Receptors, Prostaglandin E, EP4 Subtype; Macrophages; Lung; Macrophages, Alveolar; Integrin alpha Chains; Female; Antigens, CD; T-Lymphocytes
PubMed: 38773113
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48138-y -
Zhongguo Fei Ai Za Zhi = Chinese... Apr 2024Tumor microenvironment (TME) is one of the important factors in tumorigenesis and progression, in which tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) play an important role in...
BACKGROUND
Tumor microenvironment (TME) is one of the important factors in tumorigenesis and progression, in which tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) play an important role in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) progression. However, the mechanism of TAMs in NSCLC progression remains unclear, so this study aimed to investigate the role of TAMs in NSCLC progression and to find potential therapeutic targets.
METHODS
Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA) database was used to analyze the expression of prostaglandin E2 receptor 4 (EP4) mRNA in NSCLC and normal lung tissues; the protein expression levels of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), EP4, cluster of differentiation 86 (CD86), CD163 and CD31 were detected by immunohistochemistry (IHC) in 120 NSCLC tissues and 24 paracancerous tissues specimens. The nude mouse lung adenocarcinoma cell A549 and macrophage RAW264.7 co-transplanted tumor model was established. And the samples were collected by gavage with EP4 inhibitor E7046, and then stained with hematoxylin-eosin (HE), IHC, and immunofluorescence (IF), and then detected by Western blot for the epithelial mesenchymal transformation (EMT) of the tumor tissues of the nude mice in each group. Western blot was used to detect the expressions of EMT related protiens in each group of nude mice; full-length transcriptome sequencing was used to screen the key genes causing liver metastasis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis was performed.
RESULTS
EP4 mRNA expression level in NSCLC tissues was generally lower than that in normal lung tissues (P<0.05); COX-2, EP4, CD163, CD31 proteins were differentially expressed in NSCLC tissues and adjacent tissues, and differences were observed in many clinicopathological parameters of NSCLC patients; RAW264.7 shortened the latency period of tumorigenesis of A549 and promoted the proliferation of tumors and liver metastasis of tumors, and E7046 could reduce tumor cell proliferation activity, tumor tissue vascular density and M2-type macrophage infiltration in nude mice; IF staining showed that macrophages were mainly distributed around the metastatic foci of tumors; Western blot results showed that compared with A549 alone transplantation group, the relative expression of E-cadherin protein in tumor tissues of mice in A549 and RAW264.7 co-transplantation group was significantly decreased, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05), while the relative expression of N-cadherin protein was up-regulated, but the difference was not statistically significant (P>0.05); the main pathways enriched in the differential genes of the full-length transcriptome were the PI3K-AKT and MAPK signaling pathways.
CONCLUSIONS
During NSCLC development, the COX-2/PGE2/EP4 axis may promote tumor progression by inducing macrophage functional activation, and EP4 may be a potential new target for tumor immunotherapy. This study provides new perspectives and ideas for in-depth exploration of the mechanisms of NSCLC development, as well as a theoretical basis for the development of new therapeutic strategies for NSCLC.
Topics: Receptors, Prostaglandin E, EP4 Subtype; Humans; Cyclooxygenase 2; Lung Neoplasms; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung; Animals; Dinoprostone; Mice; Macrophages; Macrophage Activation; Male; Female; A549 Cells; RAW 264.7 Cells
PubMed: 38769827
DOI: 10.3779/j.issn.1009-3419.2024.101.05 -
Scientific Reports May 2024Delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI) is a serious, life-threatening, complication affecting patients who have survived the initial bleeding from a ruptured intracranial...
Delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI) is a serious, life-threatening, complication affecting patients who have survived the initial bleeding from a ruptured intracranial aneurysm. Due to the challenging diagnosis, potential DCI prognostic markers should be of value in clinical practice. According to recent reports isoprostanes and red blood cell distribution (RDW) showed to be promising in this respect. We conducted a prospective study of 27 aSAH patients and control group (n = 8). All patients from the study group were treated within the first day of the initial bleeding. We collected data regarding clinical status and results of biochemical, and radiological examinations. We measured cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) concentration of 8-iso-prostaglandin F2α (F2-IsoP) and RDW on days 1, 3, and 5. Both CSF F2-IsoP level and RDW-SD measured on day 1 were significant predictors of DCI. The receiver operating characteristics curve for DCI prediction based on the multivariate model yielded an area under the curve of 0.924 (95% CI 0.824-1.000, p < 0.001). In our study, the model based on the combination of RDW and the level of isoprostanes in CSF on the first day after the initial bleeding showed a prognostic value for DCI prediction. Further studies are required to validate this observation.
Topics: Humans; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage; Female; Male; Middle Aged; Biomarkers; Dinoprost; Prognosis; Brain Ischemia; Prospective Studies; Erythrocyte Indices; Aged; Erythrocytes; Adult; ROC Curve
PubMed: 38760404
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-61956-w -
Frontiers in Endocrinology 2024The high prevalence of obesity has become a pressing global public health problem and there exists a strong association between increased BMI and mortality at a BMI of...
The high prevalence of obesity has become a pressing global public health problem and there exists a strong association between increased BMI and mortality at a BMI of 25 kg/m or higher. The prevalence of obesity is higher among middle-aged adults than among younger groups and the combination of aging and obesity exacerbate systemic inflammation. Increased inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin 6 and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) are hallmarks of obesity, and promote the secretion of hepatic C-reactive protein (CRP) which further induces systematic inflammation. The neuropeptide oxytocin has been shown to have anti-obesity and anti-inflammation effects, and also suppress sweet-tasting carbohydrate consumption in mammals. Previously, we have shown that the Japanese herbal medicine Kamikihito (KKT), which is used to treat neuropsychological stress disorders in Japan, functions as an oxytocin receptors agonist. In the present study, we further investigated the effect of KKT on body weight (BW), food intake, inflammation, and sweet preferences in middle-aged obese mice. KKT oral administration for 12 days decreased the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the liver, and the plasma CRP and TNFα levels in obese mice. The effect of KKT administration was found to be different between male and female mice. In the absence of sucrose, KKT administration decreased food intake only in male mice. However, while having access to a 30% sucrose solution, both BW and food intake was decreased by KKT administration in male and female mice; but sucrose intake was decreased in female mice alone. In addition, KKT administration decreased sucrose intake in oxytocin deficient lean mice, but not in the WT lean mice. The present study demonstrates that KKT ameliorates chronic inflammation, which is strongly associated with aging and obesity, and decreases food intake in male mice as well as sucrose intake in female mice; in an oxytocin receptor dependent manner.
Topics: Animals; Obesity; Male; Mice; Diet, High-Fat; Inflammation; Female; Drugs, Chinese Herbal; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Sucrose; Food Preferences; Body Weight; Oxytocin; Medicine, Kampo; East Asian People
PubMed: 38742193
DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2024.1387964 -
Frontiers in Immunology 2024The parasitic helminth is a potent inducer of type 2 immune responses by stimulating dendritic cells (DCs) to prime T helper 2 (Th2) responses. We previously found that...
The parasitic helminth is a potent inducer of type 2 immune responses by stimulating dendritic cells (DCs) to prime T helper 2 (Th2) responses. We previously found that soluble egg antigens (SEA) promote the synthesis of Prostaglandin E (PGE2) by DCs through ERK-dependent signaling via Dectin-1 and Dectin-2 that subsequently induces OX40L expression, licensing them for Th2 priming, yet the ligands present in SEA involved in driving this response and whether specific targeting of PGE2 synthesis by DCs could affect Th2 polarization are unknown. We here show that the ability of SEA to bind Dectin-2 and drive ERK phosphorylation, PGE2 synthesis, OX40L expression, and Th2 polarization is impaired upon cleavage of high-mannose glycans by Endoglycosidase H treatment. This identifies high-mannose glycans present on glycoproteins in SEA as important drivers of this signaling axis. Moreover, we find that OX40L expression and Th2 induction are abrogated when microsomal prostaglandin E synthase-1 (mPGES) is selectively inhibited, but not when a general COX-1/2 inhibitor is used. This shows that the synthesis of PGE2 is vital for the Th2 priming function of SEA-stimulated DCs as well as points to the potential existence of other COX-dependent lipid mediators that antagonize PGE2-driven Th2 polarization. Lastly, specific PGE2 inhibition following immunization with eggs dampened the egg-specific Th cell response. In summary, our findings provide new insights in the molecular mechanisms underpinning Th2 induction by and identify druggable targets for potential control of helminth driven-Th2 responses.
Topics: Animals; Schistosoma mansoni; Dinoprostone; Th2 Cells; Lectins, C-Type; Mannose; Mice; Polysaccharides; Antigens, Helminth; Dendritic Cells; Schistosomiasis mansoni; Ovum; Mice, Inbred C57BL; OX40 Ligand
PubMed: 38742105
DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1372927 -
PloS One 2024
Topics: Humans; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung; Lignans; beta Catenin; Lung Neoplasms; Biphenyl Compounds; Cell Movement; Dinoprostone; Signal Transduction; Cell Line, Tumor; Allyl Compounds; Phenols
PubMed: 38739616
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0303600 -
The Journal of Maternal-fetal &... Dec 2024Presently, the efficacy of neonatal resuscitation techniques interventions such as oral, nasal, and endotracheal suction for preventing meconium aspiration syndrome...
BACKGROUND
Presently, the efficacy of neonatal resuscitation techniques interventions such as oral, nasal, and endotracheal suction for preventing meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS) after delivery has not been satisfactory.
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to investigate the role of intratracheal instillation of budesonide on oxidative stress in MAS.
METHODS
Sixty-two neonates with MAS admitted to Huai'an Maternity and Child Healthcare Hospital from January 2018 to June 2020 were divided into a study group (intratracheal instillation of 2 ml budesonide suspension; = 31) and a control group (intratracheal instillation of 2 ml normal saline; = 31). Collect data from two groups of patients and evaluate clinical outcomes, including oxygenation index (OI), as well as serum total oxidant status (TOS), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), oxidative stress index (OSI) and 8-Isoprostane before treatment and 72h after admission.
RESULTS
We found no statistical differences in mortality, complication rate, total oxygen inhalation time, OI before treatment and 72h after admission between the two groups of neonates with MAS, while the duration of invasive respiratory support in the study group was significantly shorter than in the control group. Also, serum TAC, TOS, OSI and 8-isoprostane levels were not statistically different before treatment between the two groups. After 72h of admission, OSI and 8-Isoprostane in neonates with MAS in the study group were much lower than those in the control group. TOS, OSI, 8-Isoprostane in the control group and 8-Isoprostane in the study group were significantly higher than those before treatment. As for TAC and TOS, no significant differences were observed between the two groups.
CONCLUSION
Intratracheal instillation of budesonide was shown to alleviate oxidative stress and shorten invasive ventilation time in neonates with MAS.
Topics: Humans; Meconium Aspiration Syndrome; Infant, Newborn; Oxidative Stress; Budesonide; Female; Male; Saline Solution; Instillation, Drug; Case-Control Studies; Dinoprost
PubMed: 38735865
DOI: 10.1080/14767058.2024.2337708 -
International Journal of Molecular... Apr 2024Oxytocin, a significant pleiotropic neuropeptide, regulates psychological stress adaptation and social communication, as well as peripheral actions, such as uterine...
Oxytocin, a significant pleiotropic neuropeptide, regulates psychological stress adaptation and social communication, as well as peripheral actions, such as uterine contraction and milk ejection. Recently, a Japanese Kampo medicine called Kamikihito (KKT) has been reported to stimulate oxytocin neurons to induce oxytocin secretion. Two-pore-domain potassium channels (K2P) regulate the resting potential of excitable cells, and their inhibition results in accelerated depolarization that elicits neuronal and endocrine cell activation. We assessed the effects of KKT and 14 of its components on a specific K2P, the potassium channel subfamily K member 2 (TREK-1), which is predominantly expressed in oxytocin neurons in the central nervous system (CNS). KKT inhibited the activity of TREK-1 induced via the channel activator ML335. Six of the 14 components of KKT inhibited TREK-1 activity. Additionally, we identified that 22 of the 41 compounds in the six components exhibited TREK-1 inhibitory effects. In summary, several compounds included in KKT partially activated oxytocin neurons by inhibiting TREK-1. The pharmacological effects of KKT, including antistress effects, may be partially mediated through the oxytocin pathway.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Mice; Drugs, Chinese Herbal; Medicine, Kampo; Neurons; Oxytocin; Potassium Channels, Tandem Pore Domain
PubMed: 38732124
DOI: 10.3390/ijms25094907 -
Peptides Aug 2024Arginine vasotocin (AVT) is produced mainly in the hypothalamus and as a neurohypophyseal hormone peripherally regulates water-mineral balance in sub-mammals. In...
Intraperitoneal administration of arginine vasotocin (AVT) induces anorexigenic and anxiogenic actions via the brain V1a receptor-signaling pathway in the tiger puffer, Takifugu rubripes.
Arginine vasotocin (AVT) is produced mainly in the hypothalamus and as a neurohypophyseal hormone peripherally regulates water-mineral balance in sub-mammals. In addition, AVT-containing neurons innervate several areas of the brain, and AVT also acts centrally as both an anorexigenic and anxiogenic factor in goldfish. However, it is unclear whether these central effects operate in fish in general. In the present study, therefore, we investigated AVT-like immunoreactivity in the brain of the tiger puffer, a cultured fish with a high market value in Japan and also a representative marine teleost species, focusing particularly on whether AVT affects food intake and psychomotor activity. AVT-like immunoreactivity was distributed higher in the ventral region of the telencephalon, the hypothalamus and midbrain. Intraperitoneal (IP) administration of AVT at 100 pmol g body weight (BW) increased the immunoreactivity of phosphorylated ribosomal proteinS6 (RPS6), a neuronal activation marker, in the telencephalon and diencephalon, decreased food consumption and enhanced thigmotaxis. AVT-induced anorexigenic and anxiogenic actions were blocked by IP co-injection of a V1a receptor (V1aR) antagonist, Manning compound (MC) at 300 pmol g BW. These results suggest that AVT acts as an anorexigenic and anxiogenic factor via the V1aR-signaling pathway in the tiger puffer brain.
Topics: Animals; Vasotocin; Receptors, Vasopressin; Signal Transduction; Takifugu; Injections, Intraperitoneal; Brain; Eating; Anxiety; Telencephalon
PubMed: 38723948
DOI: 10.1016/j.peptides.2024.171239