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Biology subjects

Yi, H.-S.

Publications and source records attributed to Yi, H.-S..

7 recordsLinked to original sources

ATF5-Dependent GDF15 Expression Mediates Anesthesia-Induced Neuroprotection Against Stroke

The incidence of perioperative stroke, a rare but severe complication, is increasing in aging populations. Although anesthetics such as sevoflurane may provide protective preconditioning against ischemic injury, clinical outcomes have been inconsistent. In this study, we demonstrated that sevoflurane-induced neuroprotection is associated with the upregulation of genes involved in the mitochondrial unfolded protein response (UPRmt) and mitochondrial bioenergetic metabolism. Our findings emphasize the critical role of ATF5, a key transcription factor, in mediating these protective effects. Specifically, we observed that sevoflurane preconditioning significantly upregulates ATF5 and its downstream target GDF15 - a regulator of mitochondrial function - in the cerebral cortex. Notably, we found that this mechanistic pathway was not activated in the brain of aged mice, suggesting that age-specific strategies may be necessary for reducing the risk of perioperative stroke. Considering the steadily increasing age of patients, therapeutic approaches that enhance mitochondrial function in the aged brain may provide additional protection against perioperative stroke.

neuroscience↗

Adaptive thermogenesis is mediated by GDF15 via the GFRAL neuronal axis in mice

Adaptive thermogenesis is a key homeostatic mechanism that primarily occurs in brown adipocytes and enables the maintenance of body temperature. Although this process involves coordinated responses in multiple tissues, including the browning of white adipocytes, the precise inter-organ crosstalk underlying adaptive thermogenesis is unclear. Here, we investigate the pivotal role of the GDNF family receptor alpha-like (GFRAL) neuronal axis in modulating compensatory thermogenic responses in brown and white adipose depots under stress conditions, specifically the mitochondrial unfolded protein response resulting from genetic modification and cold exposure. We employed a mouse model with targeted deletion of Crif1 in the mitoribosomes of brown adipocytes, and cold-exposed mice and immortalized adipocytes, to uncover the mechanism by which mitochondrial stress-induced growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) expression affects metabolism and facilitates adaptive thermogenesis. We found that Crif1 deletion resulted in browning of inguinal white adipose depots, increased energy expenditure, reduced food intake, and resistance to weight gain. Retrograde neuronal tracing established that GFRAL-positive neurons in the hindbrain and sympathetic preganglionic neurons in the spinal cord mediated the GDF15-associated browning of inguinal white adipose tissue. Intervention studies using antisense oligonucleotides to inhibit Gfral expression blunted the effect of Crif1 deletion on energy expenditure and food intake, further confirming the essential role the GFRAL axis plays in GDF15-driven thermogenic adaptation in white adipose tissue. Our findings suggest that the GFRAL neuronal axis is key in coordinating the adaptive thermogenic response across multiple tissues and adipose depots, thereby ensuring metabolic homeostasis during mitochondrial stress.

molecular biology↗

3-phenyllactic acid promotes healthspan through SKN-1/ATFS-1-mediated mitochondrial activation and stress resilience

The mechanisms underlying the impact of probiotic supplementation on health remain largely elusive. While previous studies have primarily focused on the discovery of novel bioactive bacteria and alterations in the microbiome environment to explain potential probiotic effects, our research delves into the role of living lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and their conditioned media, highlighting that only the former, not dead bacteria, enhance the healthspan of Caenorhabditis elegans. To elucidate the underlying mechanisms, we conducted transcriptomic profiling through RNA-seq analysis in C. elegans exposed to LAB or 3-phenyllactic acid (PLA), mimicking the presence of key candidate metabolites of LAB and evaluating healthspan. Our findings reveal that PLA treatment significantly extends the healthspan of C. elegans by promoting energy metabolism and stress resilience in a SKN-1/ATFS-1-dependent manner. Moreover, PLA-mediated longevity is associated with a novel age-related parameter, the Healthy Aging Index (HAI), introduced in this study, which comprises healthspan-related factors such as motility, oxygen consumption rate (OCR), and ATP levels. Extending the relevance of our work to humans, we observed an inverse correlation between blood PLA levels and physical performance in patients with sarcopenia, when compared to age-matched non-sarcopenic controls. Our investigation thus sheds light on the pivotal role of the metabolite PLA in probiotics-mediated enhancement of organismal healthspan, and also hints at its potential involvement in age-related sarcopenia. These findings warrant further investigation to delineate PLAs role in mitigating age-related declines in healthspan and resilience to external stressors. HighlightsO_LIMetabolites Produced by Lactic Acid Bacteria Function as Mediators of Longevity in C. elegans C_LIO_LI3-Phenyllactic Acid (PLA) Augmented Lifespan Extension and Elevated the Healthy Aging Index (HAI) C_LIO_LIPLA Facilitated Healthy Aging by Inducing Mitochondrial Activation and Stress Resistance Dependent on SKN-1/ATFS-1 C_LIO_LIPatients with Sarcopenia and Symptoms of Frailty Exhibited Reduced Blood PLA Levels. C_LI

molecular biology↗

Dose-response relationship for the resistance of human insulin to degradation by insulin-degrading enzyme

Deeper understanding of the mechanism of the action of insulin and insulin-degrading enzyme (IDE) is a central theme in research into physiology and the pathophysiology of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Despite significant progress regarding the substrate recruitment, unfolding, digestion, and release by IDE, the structure and function of the insulin hexamer during the degradation cycle of IDE remain to be fully characterized. In the present study, we have characterized the behavior of human insulin hexamer in the absence of zinc. Using cryo-electron microscopy, we also observed that these hexamers represented a structure similar to that of T6 insulin. More interestingly, we also observed complexes in which some of their monomeric insulin components are partially distorted at their hexametric symmetry. This ensures that insulin determines the kinetics of its degradation by IDE without the requirement for zinc. These findings provide new information regarding the molecular events in insulin assembly and disassembly that permit its selective digestion by IDE.

biochemistry↗

Loss-of-SIRT7 sensitizes hepatocellular carcinoma to sorafenib through the regulation of ERK Phosphorylation

The FDA-approved oral multi-kinase inhibitor, sorafenib (BAY 43-9006, Nexavar), is the first approved systemic therapy for patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Although it has been shown to significantly improve the overall survival of patients with HCC, drug resistance limits the response rate to this therapeutic. Here, we report that acquired sorafenib resistance is associated with overexpression of the deacetylase, SIRT7, and a high level of ERK phosphorylation. Further, we identify that the hyperactivation of ERK is controlled by SIRT7-mediated deacetylation of DDX3X. The inhibition of SIRT7 combined with sorafenib resulted in a marked reduction of cell viability in vitro and of tumor growth in vivo. It seems plausible that SIRT7 is responsible for the acquired sorafenib resistance and its inhibition is most likely beneficial together in conjunction with sorafenib by suppressing ERK signaling. HighlightsO_LISorafenib resistance in HCC is associated with SIRT7 and ERK hyperactivation. C_LIO_LISuppression of SIRT7 combined with sorafenib restores sensitivity to sorafenib. C_LIO_LISIRT7 controls sorafenib resistance through ERK activation by mediating DDX3X deacetylation. C_LI

cancer biology↗

Host-dependent induction of disease tolerance to infection by tetracycline antibiotics

Synergy of resistance and disease tolerance mechanisms is necessary for an effective immune response leading to survival and return to homeostasis when an organism is challenged by infection. Antibiotics are used for their resistance enhancement capabilities by decreasing pathogen load, but several classes have long been known to have beneficial effects that cannot be explained strictly on the basis of their capacity to control the infectious agent. Here we report that tetracycline antibiotics, a class of ribosome-targeting drugs, robustly protects against sepsis by inducing disease tolerance, independently from their direct antibiotic properties. Mechanistically, we find that mitochondrial inhibition of protein synthesis perturbs the electron transfer chain and leads to improved damage repair in the lung and fatty acid oxidation and glucocorticoid sensitivity in the liver. Using a partial and acute deletion of CRIF1 in the liver, a critical mitoribosomal component for protein synthesis, we find that mice are protected against bacterial sepsis, an observation which is phenocopied by the transient inhibition of complex I of ETC by phenformin. Together, we demonstrate that ribosome-targeting antibiotics are beneficial beyond their antibacterial activity and that mitochondrial protein synthesis inhibition leading to ETC perturbation is a novel mechanism for the induction of disease tolerance.

immunology↗

CXCL5-mediated recruitment of neutrophils into the peritoneal cavity of Gdf15-deficient mice protects against abdominal sepsis

Sepsis is a life-threatening organ dysfunction condition caused by a dysregulated host response to an infection. Here we report that the circulating levels of growth-differentiation factor-15 (GDF15) are strongly increased in septic shock patients and correlate with mortality. In mice, we find that peptidoglycan is a potent ligand that signals through the TLR2-Myd88 axis for the secretion of GDF15 and that Gdf15-deficient animals are protected against abdominal sepsis due to increased chemokine CXC ligand 5 (CXCL5)-mediated recruitment of neutrophils into the peritoneum leading to better local bacterial control. Our results identify GDF15 as a potential target to improve sepsis treatment. Its inhibition should increase neutrophil recruitment to the site of infection and consequently lead to better pathogen control and clearance.

immunology↗