BACKGROUND: PANoptosis has the features of pyroptosis, apoptosis, and necroptosis. Numerous studies have confirmed the diverse roles of various types of cell death in acute liver failure (ALF), but limited attention has been given to the crosstalk among them. In this study, we aimed to explore the role of PANoptosis in ALF and uncover new targets for its prevention or treatment. METHODS: Three ALF-related datasets (GSE14668, GSE62029, and GSE74000) were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Hub genes were identified through intersecting DEGs, genes obtained from weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA), and genes related to PANoptosis. Gene Ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), protein‍‒‍protein interaction (PPI) analyses and gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) were performed to determine functional roles. Verification was performed using an ALF mouse model. RESULTS: Our results showed that expression of seven hub genes (B-cell lymphoma-2-modifying factor (BMF), B-cell lymphoma-2-interacting protein 3-like (BNIP3L), Caspase-1 (CASP1), receptor-interacting protein kinase 3 (RIPK3), uveal autoantigen with coiled-coil domains and ankyrin repeats protein (UACA), uncoordinated-5 homolog B receptor (UNC5B), and Z-DNA-binding protein 1 (ZBP1)) was up-regulated in liver samples of patients. However, in the ALF mouse model, the expression of BNIP3L, RIPK3, phosphorylated RIPK3 (P-RIPK3), UACA, and cleaved caspase-1 was up-regulated, while the expression of CASP1 and UNC5B was down-regulated. The expression of ZBP1 and BMF increased only during the development of ALF, and there was no significant change in the end stage. Immunofluorescence of mouse liver tissue showed that macrophages expressed all seven markers. Western blot results showed that pyroptosis, apoptosis, and necroptosis were always involved in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)/ d-galactosamine (d-gal)‍-induced ALF mice. The ALF cell model showed that bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) form PANoptosomes after LPS stimulation. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that PANoptosis of macrophages promotes the development of ALF. The seven new ALF biomarkers identified and validated in this study may contribute to further investigation of diagnostic markers or novel therapeutic targets of ALF.
Animals ; Liver Failure, Acute/genetics* ; Computational Biology ; Mice ; Pyroptosis/genetics* ; Humans ; Protein Interaction Maps ; Apoptosis/genetics* ; Necroptosis/genetics* ; Gene Regulatory Networks ; Gene Ontology ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Disease Models, Animal

To explore the effect and mechanism of Dahuang Zhechong Pills(DHZCP), a classical prescription, in improving testicular aging(TA) in vivo, the authors randomly divided 24 male rats into four groups: the normal, model, DHZCP and vitamin E(VE) groups. The TA rat model was established by continuous gavage of D-galactose(D-gal). During the experiment, the rats in the DHZCP and VE groups were given DHZCP suspension and VE suspension, respectively by gavage, while those in the normal and model groups were gavaged saline separately every day. After the co-administration of D-gal and various drugs for 60 days, all rats were sacrificed, and their blood and testis were collected. Further, various indexes related to TA and necroptosis of testicular cells in the model rats were examined and investigated, which included the aging phenotype, total testicular weight, testicular index, histopathological features of testis, number of spermatogenic cells, sex hormone level, expression characteristics of reactive oxygen species(ROS) in testis, expression levels and characteristics of cyclins in testis, and protein expression levels of the key molecules in receptor-interacting serine/threonine-protein kinase 1(RIPK1)/receptor-interacting serine/threonine-protein kinase 3(RIPK3)/mixed lineage kinase domain like pseudokinase(MLKL) signaling pathway in each group. The results showed that, for the TA model rats, both DHZCP and VE improved their aging phenotype, total testicular weight, testicular index, pathological features of testis, number of spermatogenic cells, serum testosterone and follicle stimulating hormone levels, expression characteristics of ROS and protein expression levels and characteristics of P21 and P53 in testis. In addition, DHZCP and VE improved the protein expression levels of the key molecules in RIPK1/RIPK3/MLKL signaling pathway in testis of the model rats. Specifically, DHZCP was better than VE in the improvement of RIPK3. In conclusion, in this study, the authors found that DHZCP, similar to VE, ameliorated D-gal-induced TA in model rats in vivo, and its mechanism was related to reducing necroptosis of testicular cells by inhibiting the activation of RIPK1/RIPK3/MLKL signaling pathway. This study provided preliminary pharmacological evidence for the development and application of classical prescriptions in the field of men's health.
Aging ; Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Male ; Necroptosis ; Protein Kinases/genetics* ; Rats ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism* ; Receptor-Interacting Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases/pharmacology* ; Serine/pharmacology* ; Signal Transduction ; Testis ; Threonine/pharmacology*

The aim of the study is to identify the effects and underlying mechanisms of visfatin on inflammation and necroptosis in vascular endothelial cells. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were stimulated with visfatin or pretreated with Polyinosinic acid (LOX-1 inhibitor). By using the Western blot, RT-PCR, immunocytochemistry, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), MTT and flow cytometry technique, the occurrence of inflammation and necroptosis in HUVECs were evaluated. Our results showed that 100 ng/mL visfatin significantly increased the mRNA and protein expression of monocyte chemotactic protein 1 (MCP-1) and LOX-1 after 24 hours' treatment in HUVECs. However, pretreatment with Polyinosinic acid could significantly reduce the expression of MCP-1 compared with visfatin group. Additionally, 100 ng/mL visfatin could induce the production of necrotic features and increase the mRNA expression of BMF (one of the markers of necroptosis), while pretreating with Polyinosinic acid markedly downregulated the mRNA expression of BMF gene and promoted the cell proliferation. These results indicate that visfatin might induce inflammation and necroptosis via LOX-1 in HUVECs, suggesting that visfatin plays a central role in the development of atherosclerosis.
Cells, Cultured ; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells ; Humans ; Inflammation/chemically induced* ; Necroptosis ; Nicotinamide Phosphoribosyltransferase ; Scavenger Receptors, Class E/genetics*