OBJECTIVES: Pyroptosis plays a critical role in tubulointerstitial lesions of diabetic kidney disease (DKD). Annexin A2 (ANXA2) is involved in cell proliferation, apoptosis, and adhesion and may be closely related to DKD, but its specific mechanism remains unclear. This study aims to investigate the role and molecular mechanism of ANXA2 in high glucose-induced pyroptosis of renal tubular epithelial cells, providing new targets for DKD prevention and treatment. METHODS: Human renal tubular epithelial HK-2 cells were divided into a normal glucose group (5.5 mmol/L), a high glucose group (30.0 mmol/L), and a osmotic control group (24.5 mmol/L mannitol+5.5 mmol/L glucose). ANXA2 expression was modulated by overexpression of plasmids and small interfering RNA (siRNA). Cell proliferation was measured by 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU) assay, apoptosis by flow cytometry, and ANXA2, p50, and p65 subcellular localization by immunofluorescence. Western blotting was employed to detect α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), fibronectin (FN), and collagen type IV (Col-IV). Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) and Western blotting were used to analyze nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) subunits p50/p65 and the pyroptosis pathway factors NLR family Pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3), caspase-1, inferleukin (IL)-1β, and IL-18. Protein interactions between ANXA2 and p50/p65 were examined by co-immunoprecipitation, while chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) and dual-luciferase reporter assays were used to examine NF-κB binding to the ANXA2 promoter. RESULTS: High glucose upregulated ANXA2 expression and promoted its nuclear translocation (P<0.01). High glucose reduced cell proliferation, increased apoptosis, and elevated α-SMA, FN, and Col-IV expression (all P<0.05); ANXA2 overexpression aggravated these effects (all P<0.05), while ANXA2 knockdown reversed them (all P<0.05). High glucose activated NF-κB and increased NLRP3, caspase-1, L-1β, and IL-18 mRNA and protein expression (all P<0.05); ANXA2 overexpression further enhanced this, whereas knockdown suppressed NF-κB activation and downstream factors (all P<0.05). Co-immunoprecipitation confirmed ANXA2 directly binds the NF-κB subunit p65. ChIP assays revealed p65 binds specifically to ANXA2 promoter regions (ChIP-2, ChIP-4, and ChIP-6), and luciferase activity in corresponding mutant constructs (M2, M4, and M6) was significantly increased versus controls (all P<0.05), confirming positive transcriptional regulation of ANXA2 by p65. CONCLUSIONS ANXA2 and NF-κB form a positive feedback loop that sustains NLRP3 inflammasome activation, promotes pyroptosis pathway activation, and aggravates high glucose-induced renal tubular epithelial cell injury. Targeting ANXA2 or blocking its interaction with p65 may be a novel strategy to slow DKD progression.
Humans ; Pyroptosis/drug effects* ; Annexin A2/physiology* ; Epithelial Cells/cytology* ; Kidney Tubules/cytology* ; Glucose/pharmacology* ; Diabetic Nephropathies/metabolism* ; NF-kappa B/metabolism* ; Cell Line ; Cell Proliferation ; Transcription Factor RelA/metabolism* ; Feedback, Physiological

Thyroglobulin is the most important and abundant protein in thyroid follicles and has been widely studied as a tumor marker of thyroid cancer recurrence and persistence. Tg is considered the material basis of thyroid hormone synthesis and does not participate in the regulation of thyroid hormone synthesis and secretion. This review summarizes the recent progress in the research of thyroid hormone synthesis and secretion regulation via a negative feedback regulation mechanism by the thyroid-hypothalamus-pituitary axis. Thyroglobulin can negatively regulate the synthesis of thyroid hormone by thyroid follicular cells and antagonize the positive regulation of thyrotropin TSH. The function of thyroid follicular cells is presumably a result of Tg and TSH interaction, and a follicular cycle model is proposed to explain the causes of follicular heterogeneity in glands. We also discuss the prospects and clinical significance of studies into the negative feedback regulation mechanism of the thyroid-hypothalamus-pituitary axis and compare two theories for this mechanism.
Feedback, Physiological ; Humans ; Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System ; physiology ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Thyroglobulin ; metabolism ; Thyroid Gland ; physiology ; Thyroid Hormones ; metabolism ; Thyrotropin ; metabolism

Skeletal fluorosis is a chronically metabolic bone disease with extensive hyperostosis osteosclerosis caused by long time exposure to fluoride. Skeletal fluorosis brings about a series of abnormal changes of the extremity, such as joint pain, joint stiffness, bone deformity, etc. Differentiation and maturation of osteoblasts were regulated by osteoclasts via Sema4D/Plexin-B1 signaling pathway. Furthermore, the differentiation and maturation of osteoclasts are conducted by osteoblasts via RANKL/RANK/OPG pathway. Both of these processes form a feedback circuit which is a key link in skeletal fluorosis. In this study, an osteoblast-osteoclast co-culture model in vitro was developed to illustrate the mechanism of skeletal fluorosis. With the increase of fluoride concentration, the expression level of Sema4D was decreased and TGF-β1 was increased continuously. OPG/RANKL mRNA level, however, increased gradually. On the basis of that, the inhibition of Sema4D/Plexin-B1/RhoA/ROCK signaling pathway caused by fluoride promoted the level of TGF-β1 and activated the proliferation of osteoblasts. In addition, osteroprotegerin (OPG) secreted by osteoblasts was up-regulated by fluoride. The competitive combination of OPG and RANKL was strengthened and the combination of RANKL and RANK was hindered. And then the differentiation and maturation of osteoclasts were inhibited, and bone absorption was weakened, leading to skeletal fluorosis.
Animals ; Antigens, CD ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Feedback, Physiological ; Fetus ; Fluorides ; pharmacology ; GTPase-Activating Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental ; Osteoblasts ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Osteoclasts ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Osteogenesis ; drug effects ; genetics ; Osteoprotegerin ; genetics ; metabolism ; RANK Ligand ; genetics ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats ; Receptor Activator of Nuclear Factor-kappa B ; genetics ; metabolism ; Receptors, Cell Surface ; genetics ; metabolism ; Semaphorins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; genetics ; metabolism ; rho-Associated Kinases ; genetics ; metabolism ; rhoA GTP-Binding Protein ; genetics ; metabolism

Kisspeptins are a group of peptide fragments encoded by the KISS1 gene in humans. They bind to kisspeptin receptors with equal efficacy. Kisspeptins and their receptors are expressed by neurons in the arcuate and anteroventral periventricular nuclei of the hypothalamus. Oestrogen mediates negative feedback of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone secretion via the arcuate nucleus. Conversely, it exerts positive feedback via the anteroventral periventricular nucleus. The sexual dimorphism of these nuclei accounts for the differential behaviour of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis between genders. Kisspeptins are essential for reproductive function. Puberty is regulated by the maturation of kisspeptin neurons and by interactions between kisspeptins and leptin. Hence, kisspeptins have potential diagnostic and therapeutic applications. Kisspeptin agonists may be used to localise lesions in cases of hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis dysfunction and evaluate the gonadotrophic potential of subfertile individuals. Kisspeptin antagonists may be useful as contraceptives in women, through the prevention of premature luteinisation during in vitro fertilisation, and in the treatment of sex steroid-dependent diseases and metastatic cancers.
Animals ; Arcuate Nucleus of Hypothalamus ; metabolism ; Estrogens ; metabolism ; Feedback, Physiological ; Female ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone ; metabolism ; Homeostasis ; Humans ; Kisspeptins ; physiology ; Male ; Mice ; Neoplasms ; metabolism ; Neurons ; metabolism ; Protein Binding ; Rats ; Reproduction ; Sex Factors ; Signal Transduction

OBJECTIVEIn Corynebacterium crenatum, the adjacent D311 and D312 of N-acetyl-L-glutamate kinase (NAGK), as a key rate-limiting enzyme of L-arginine biosynthesis under substrate regulatory control by arginine, were initially replaced with two arginine residues to investigate the L-arginine feedback inhibition for NAGK.

METHODSNAGK enzyme expression was evaluated using a plasmid-based method. Homologous recombination was employed to eliminate the proB.

RESULTSThe IC50 and enzyme activity of NAGK M4, in which the D311R and D312R amino acid substitutions were combined with the previously reported E19R and H26E substitutions, were 3.7-fold and 14.6% higher, respectively, than those of the wild-type NAGK. NAGK M4 was successfully introduced into the C. crenatum MT genome without any genetic markers; the L-arginine yield of C. crenatum MT-M4 was 26.2% higher than that of C. crenatum MT. To further improve upon the L-arginine yield, we constructed the mutant C. crenatum MT-M4 proB. The optimum concentration of L-proline was also investigated in order to determine its contribution to L-arginine yield. After L-proline was added to the medium at 10 mmol/L, the L-arginine yield reached 16.5 g/L after 108 h of shake-flask fermentation, approximately 70.1% higher than the yield attained using C. crenatum MT.

CONCLUSIONFeedback inhibition of L-arginine on NAGK in C. crenatum is clearly alleviated by the M4 mutation of NAGK, and deletion of the proB in C. crenatum from MT to M4 results in a significant increase in arginine production.

Animals ; Arginine ; biosynthesis ; Corynebacterium ; genetics ; metabolism ; Escherichia coli ; Feedback, Physiological ; Gene Deletion ; Mutagenesis, Site-Directed ; Phosphotransferases (Carboxyl Group Acceptor) ; genetics ; Proline ; metabolism

Feedback and feedforward widely exist in life system, both of them are the basic processes of control system. While the concept of feedback has been widely used in life science, feedforward regulation was systematically studied in neurophysiology, awaiting further evidence and mechanism in molecular biology and cell biology. The authors put forward a hypothesis about the feedforward regulation of membrane bound macrophage colony stimulation factor (mM-CSF) on the basis of their previous work. This hypothesis might provide a new direction for the study on the biological effects of mM-CSF on leukemia and solid tumors, and contribute to the study on other membrane bound cytokines.
Feedback, Physiological ; Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor ; Humans ; Leukemia ; Systems Biology

OBJECTIVETo explore the core mechanism of cell cycle compensation using a mathematical model.

METHODSA set of ordinary differential equations were used to describe the interactions between the core cell cycle molecules. Continuous and cyclic changes of the concentrations of these molecules were computed to capture the discrete events of molecular interactions.

RESULTSThe calculated molecule concentrations and captured signaling events agreed with the experimental results.

CONCLUSIONE2F transcription factor 1 is the pivotal element linking the positive and negative feedbacks and regulating G1/S and G2/M phase compensation.

Animals ; Cell Cycle ; Drosophila ; cytology ; E2F1 Transcription Factor ; Feedback, Physiological ; Models, Theoretical

T-helper (Th)17 cell responses are important for the development of neutrophilic inflammatory disease. Recently, we found that acetyl salicylic acid (ASA) inhibited Th17 airway inflammation in an asthma mouse model induced by sensitization with lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-containing allergens. To investigate the mechanism(s) of the inhibitory effect of ASA on the development of Th17 airway inflammation, a neutrophilic asthma mouse model was generated by intranasal sensitization with LPS plus ovalbumin (OVA) and then challenged with OVA alone. Immunologic parameters and airway inflammation were evaluated 6 and 48 h after the last OVA challenge. ASA inhibited the production of interleukin (IL)-17 from lung T cells as well as in vitro Th17 polarization induced by IL-6. Additionally, ASA, but not salicylic acid, suppressed Th17 airway inflammation, which was associated with decreased expression of acetyl-STAT3 (downstream signaling of IL-6) in the lung. Moreover, the production of IL-6 from inflammatory cells, induced by IL-17, was abolished by treatment with ASA, whereas that induced by LPS was not. Altogether, ASA, likely via its acetyl moiety, inhibits Th17 airway inflammation by blockade of IL-6 and IL-17 positive feedback.
Animals ; Aspirin/pharmacology/*therapeutic use ; Cell Polarity/drug effects/immunology ; Feedback, Physiological/*drug effects ; Interferon-gamma/deficiency/metabolism ; Interleukin-17/*metabolism/pharmacology ; Interleukin-6/biosynthesis/*metabolism ; Lipopolysaccharides/pharmacology ; Lung/drug effects/metabolism/pathology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Pneumonia/*drug therapy/*immunology/pathology ; Th17 Cells/drug effects/*immunology/pathology ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1/pharmacology

To have a thorough understanding of the CPR quality based on patients' various physiological states, the doctors must do something to simulate the chest compression physiological feedback parameters (CCPFP). The CCPFP simulation plays an important role in raising efficiency of CPR training and improving chest compression quality. In this study, the CCPFP, including cardiac output (CO), coronary perfusion pressure (CPP), partial pressure of End-tidal CO2 (PETCO2) and mean arterial relaxation pressure (MARP), was simulated using Charles F. Babbs' Model. Simulation results showed that the effect of compression depth upon CCPFP was important in the range of 2-6 cm, whereas compression rate had little effect on the CCPFP higher than 100/min; the thoracic factor is inversely proportional to the CCPFP with fixed compression depth and compression rate. The CCPFP simulation can be implemented at the various physiological statuses, and verified well with the animal experimental results and the clinical results.
Blood Pressure ; physiology ; Carbon Dioxide ; blood ; Cardiac Output ; physiology ; Chest Wall Oscillation ; Computer Simulation ; Feedback, Physiological ; physiology ; Humans ; Models, Biological ; Partial Pressure

Siva-1, as a p53-inducible gene, has been shown to induce extensive apoptosis in a number of different cell lines. Recent evidence suggests that Siva-1 functions as a part of the auto-regulatory feedback loop that restrains p53 through facilitating Mdm2-mediated p53 degradation. Also, Siva-1 plays an important role in suppressing tumor metastasis. Here we review the current understanding of Siva-1-mediated apoptotic signaling pathway. We also add comments on the p53-Siva-1 feedback loop, the novel function of Siva-1 in suppressing tumor metastasis, and their potential implications.
Apoptosis ; Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins ; metabolism ; Feedback, Physiological ; Humans ; Models, Biological ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neoplasms ; pathology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-mdm2 ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; metabolism