Explore the vast range of titles available.

Blood-supply boost in ischaemia The cellular oxygen-sensing enyzme PHD2 uses oxygen to degrade hypoxia-inducible factor 1α. Using a mouse model of limb ischaemia, Takeda et al . link oxygen sensing through PHD2 to macrophage phenotype and arteriogenesis. They show that myeloid-cell-specific PHD2 haplodeficiency results in improved arteriogenesis after ischaemia owing to hyperactivation of NFκB signalling in the macrophages and the promotion of an M2-like repair phenotype. This suggests that PHD2 inhibition might promote collateral vascularization in patients who are at risk of limb or heart ischaemia. PHD2 serves as an oxygen sensor that rescues blood supply by regulating vessel formation and shape in case of oxygen shortage 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 . However, it is unknown whether PHD2 can influence arteriogenesis. Here we studied the role of PHD2 in collateral artery growth by using hindlimb ischaemia as a model, a process that compensates for the lack of blood flow in case of major arterial occlusion 6 , 7 , 8 . We show that Phd2 (also known as Egln1 ) haplodeficient ( Phd2 +/− ) mice displayed preformed collateral arteries that preserved limb perfusion and prevented tissue necrosis in ischaemia. Improved arteriogenesis in Phd2 +/− mice was due to an expansion of tissue-resident, M2-like macrophages 9 , 10 and their increased release of arteriogenic factors, leading to enhanced smooth muscle cell (SMC) recruitment and growth. Both chronic and acute deletion of one Phd2 allele in macrophages was sufficient to skew their polarization towards a pro-arteriogenic phenotype. Mechanistically, collateral vessel preconditioning relied on the activation of canonical NF-κB pathway in Phd2 +/− macrophages. These results unravel how PHD2 regulates arteriogenesis and artery homeostasis by controlling a specific differentiation state in macrophages and suggest new treatment options for ischaemic disorders.

Collagen prolyl 4-hydroxylase (P4H) expression and collagen hydroxylation in cancer cells are necessary for breast cancer progression. Here, we show that P4H alpha 1 subunit (P4HA1) protein expression is induced in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and HER2 positive breast cancer. By modulating alpha ketoglutarate (α-KG) and succinate levels P4HA1 expression reduces proline hydroxylation on hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) 1α, enhancing its stability in cancer cells. Activation of the P4HA/HIF-1 axis enhances cancer cell stemness, accompanied by decreased oxidative phosphorylation and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels. Inhibition of P4HA1 sensitizes TNBC to the chemotherapeutic agent docetaxel and doxorubicin in xenografts and patient-derived models. We also show that increased P4HA1 expression correlates with short relapse-free survival in TNBC patients who received chemotherapy. These results suggest that P4HA1 promotes chemoresistance by modulating HIF-1-dependent cancer cell stemness. Targeting collagen P4H is a promising strategy to inhibit tumor progression and sensitize TNBC to chemotherapeutic agents. Hyperactivation of HIF-1α is crucial in progression of triple-negative breast cancer, but how HIF-1α stability is maintained in a hypoxia-independent manner is unclear. Here, the authors show collagen prolyl-4-hydroylase 1 stabilises HIF-1α and is involved in chemoresistance in TNBC.

The proper assembly and maturation of collagens necessitate the orchestrated hydroxylation and glycosylation of multiple lysyl residues in procollagen chains. Dysfunctions in this multistep modification process can lead to severe collagen-associated diseases. To elucidate the coordination of lysyl processing activities, we determine the cryo-EM structures of the enzyme complex formed by LH3/PLOD3 and GLT25D1/ColGalT1, designated as the KOGG complex. Our structural analysis reveals a tetrameric complex comprising dimeric LH3/PLOD3s and GLT25D1/ColGalT1s, assembled with interactions involving the N-terminal loop of GLT25D1/ColGalT1 bridging another GLT25D1/ColGalT1 and LH3/PLOD3. We further elucidate the spatial configuration of the hydroxylase, galactosyltransferase, and glucosyltransferase sites within the KOGG complex, along with the key residues involved in substrate binding at these enzymatic sites. Intriguingly, we identify a high-order oligomeric pattern characterized by the formation of a fiber-like KOGG polymer assembled through the repetitive incorporation of KOGG tetramers as the biological unit. This study reveals the structural basis of collagen processing by the KOGG complex, revealing how it catalyzes lysine hydroxylation and dual-glycosylation, essential for collagen folding and stability, with implications for collagen-related diseases.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) has a collagen-rich dense extracellular matrix (ECM) that promotes malignancy of cancer cells and presents a barrier for drug delivery. Data analysis of our published mass spectrometry (MS)-based studies on enriched ECM from samples of progressive PDAC stages reveal that the C-terminal prodomains of fibrillar collagens are partially uncleaved in PDAC ECM, suggesting reduced procollagen C-proteinase activity. We further show that the enzyme responsible for procollagen C-proteinase activity, bone morphogenetic protein1 (BMP1), selectively suppresses tumor growth and metastasis in cells expressing high levels of COL1A1. Although BMP1, as a secreted proteinase, promotes fibrillar collagen deposition from both cancer cells and stromal cells, only cancer-cell-derived procollagen cleavage and deposition suppresses tumor malignancy. These studies reveal a role for cancer-cell-derived fibrillar collagen in selectively restraining tumor growth and suggest stratification of patients based on their tumor epithelial collagen I expression when considering treatments related to perturbation of fibrillar collagens. Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma has a collagen-rich dense extracellular matrix that promotes malignancy of cancer cells. Here, the authors show that fibrillar collagen that is cancer-cell-derived, but not stroma-derived, selectively restrains tumor growth under control of their pC-proteinase, BMP1.

SummaryThe National Bone Health Alliance (NBHA) recommends standardized sample handling and patient preparation for C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX-I) and N-terminal propeptide of type I procollagen (PINP) measurements to reduce pre-analytical variability. Controllable and uncontrollable patient-related factors are reviewed to facilitate interpretation and minimize pre-analytical variability.IntroductionThe IOF and the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry (IFCC) Bone Marker Standards Working Group have identified PINP and CTX-I in blood to be the reference markers of bone turnover for the fracture risk prediction and monitoring of osteoporosis treatment. Although used in clinical research for many years, bone turnover markers (BTM) have not been widely adopted in clinical practice primarily due to their poor within-subject and between-lab reproducibility. The NBHA Bone Turnover Marker Project team aim to reduce pre-analytical variability of CTX-I and PINP measurements through standardized sample handling and patient preparation.MethodsRecommendations for sample handling and patient preparations were made based on review of available publications and pragmatic considerations to reduce pre-analytical variability. Controllable and un-controllable patient-related factors were reviewed to facilitate interpretation and sample collection.ResultsSamples for CTX-I must be collected consistently in the morning hours in the fasted state. EDTA plasma is preferred for CTX-I for its greater sample stability. Sample collection conditions for PINP are less critical as PINP has minimal circadian variability and is not affected by food intake. Sample stability limits should be observed. The uncontrollable aspects (age, sex, pregnancy, immobility, recent fracture, co-morbidities, anti-osteoporotic drugs, other medications) should be considered in BTM interpretation.ConclusionAdopting standardized sample handling and patient preparation procedures will significantly reduce controllable pre-analytical variability. The successful adoption of such recommendations necessitates the close collaboration of various stakeholders at the global stage, including the laboratories, the medical community, the reagent manufacturers and the regulatory agencies.

Procollagen‐lysine, 2‐oxoglutarate 5‐dioxygenase 2 (PLOD2) has been reported as an oncogenic gene, affecting various malignant tumors, including endometrial carcinoma, osteosarcoma, and gastric cancer. These effects are mostly due to the enhanced deposition of collagen precursors. However, more studies need to be conducted on how its lysyl hydroxylase function affects cancers like colorectal carcinoma (CRC). Our present results showed that PLOD2 expression was elevated in CRC, and its higher expression was associated with poorer survival. Overexpression of PLOD2 also facilitated CRC proliferation, invasion, and metastasis in vitro and in vivo. In addition, PLOD2 interacted with USP15 by stabilizing it in the cytoplasm and then activated the phosphorylation of AKT/mTOR, thereby promoting CRC progression. Meanwhile, minoxidil was demonstrated to downregulate the expression of PLOD2 and suppress USP15, and the phosphorylation of AKT/mTOR. Our study reveals that PLOD2 plays an oncogenic role in colorectal carcinoma, upregulating USP15 and subsequently activating the AKT/mTOR pathway. PLOD2 enhances proliferation and metastasis in CRC. PLOD2 interacts with USP15 by inhibiting protein degradation of ubiquitination in the cytoplasm. USP15 subsequently activates the phosphorylation of the AKT/mTOR signaling pathway to promote tumor growth and migration.

Preclinical evidence demonstrates that senescent cells accumulate with aging and that senolytics delay multiple age-related morbidities, including bone loss. Thus, we conducted a phase 2 randomized controlled trial of intermittent administration of the senolytic combination dasatinib plus quercetin (D + Q) in postmenopausal women ( n  = 60 participants). The primary endpoint, percentage changes at 20 weeks in the bone resorption marker C-terminal telopeptide of type 1 collagen (CTx), did not differ between groups (median (interquartile range), D + Q −4.1% (−13.2, 2.6), control −7.7% (−20.1, 14.3); P  = 0.611). The secondary endpoint, percentage changes in the bone formation marker procollagen type 1 N-terminal propeptide (P1NP), increased significantly (relative to control) in the D + Q group at both 2 weeks (+16%, P  = 0.020) and 4 weeks (+16%, P  = 0.024), but was not different from control at 20 weeks (−9%, P  = 0.149). No serious adverse events were observed. In exploratory analyses, the skeletal response to D + Q was driven principally by women with a high senescent cell burden (highest tertile for T cell p16 (also known as CDKN2A ) mRNA levels) in which D + Q concomitantly increased P1NP (+34%, P  = 0.035) and reduced CTx (−11%, P  = 0.049) at 2 weeks, and increased radius bone mineral density (+2.7%, P  = 0.004) at 20 weeks. Thus, intermittent D + Q treatment did not reduce bone resorption in the overall group of postmenopausal women. However, our exploratory analyses indicate that further studies are needed testing the hypothesis that the underlying senescent cell burden may dictate the clinical response to senolytics. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT04313634 . In a phase 2 randomized control trial, intermittent senolytic therapy administered to postmenopausal women did not result in a reduction in the bone resorption marker, serum CTx, compared to control at 20 weeks.

The supramolecular cargo procollagen is loaded into coat protein complex II (COPII)-coated carriers at endoplasmic reticulum (ER) exit sites by the receptor molecule TANGO1/cTAGE5. Electron microscopy studies have identified a tubular carrier of suitable dimensions that is molded by a distinctive helical array of the COPII inner coat protein Sec23/24•Sar1; the helical arrangement is absent from canonical COPII-coated small vesicles. In this study, we combined X-ray crystallographic and biochemical analysis to characterize the association of TANGO1/cTAGE5 with COPII proteins. The affinity for Sec23 is concentrated in the proline-rich domains (PRDs) of TANGO1 and cTAGE5, but Sec23 recognizes merely a PPP motif. The PRDs contain repeated PPP motifs separated by proline-rich linkers, so a single TANGO1/cTAGE5 receptor can bind multiple copies of coat protein in a close-packed array. We propose that TANGO1/cTAGE5 promotes the accretion of inner coat proteins to the helical lattice. Furthermore, we show that PPP motifs in the outer coat protein Sec31 also bind to Sec23, suggesting that stepwise COPII coat assembly will ultimately displace TANGO1/cTAGE5 and compartmentalize its operation to the base of the growing COPII tubule.

Background Adipocytes make up the major component of breast tissue, accounting for 90% of stromal tissue. Thus, the crosstalk between adipocytes and breast cancer cells may play a critical role in cancer progression. Adipocyte-breast cancer interactions have been considered important for the promotion of breast cancer metastasis. However, the specific mechanisms underlying these interactions are unclear. In this study, we investigated the mechanisms of adipocyte-mediated breast cancer metastasis. Methods Breast cancer cells were cocultured with mature adipocytes for migration and 3D matrix invasion assays. Next, lentivirus-mediated loss-of-function experiments were used to explore the function of lysyl hydroxylase (PLOD2) in breast cancer migration and adipocyte-dependent migration of breast cancer cells. The role of PLOD2 in breast cancer metastasis was further confirmed using orthotopic mammary fat pad xenografts in vivo. Clinical samples were used to confirm that PLOD2 expression is increased in tumor tissue and is associated with poor prognosis of breast cancer patients. Cells were treated with cytokines and pharmacological inhibitors in order to verify which adipokines were responsible for activation of PLOD2 expression and which signaling pathways were activated in vitro. Results Gene expression profiling and Western blotting analyses revealed that PLOD2 was upregulated in breast cancer cells following coculture with adipocytes; this process was accompanied by enhanced breast cancer cell migration and invasion. Loss-of-function studies indicated that PLOD2 knockdown suppressed cell migration and disrupted the formation of actin stress fibers in breast cancer cells and abrogated the migration induced by following coculture with adipocytes. Moreover, experiments performed in orthotopic mammary fat pad xenografts showed that PLOD2 knockdown could reduce metastasis to the lung and liver. Further, high PLOD2 expression correlated with poor prognosis of breast cancer patients. Mechanistically, adipocyte-derived interleukin-6 (IL-6) and leptin may facilitate PLOD2 upregulation in breast cancer cells and promote breast cancer metastasis in tail vein metastasis assays. Further investigation revealed that adipocyte-derived IL-6 and leptin promoted PLOD2 expression through activation of the JAK/STAT3 and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways. Conclusions Our study reveals that adipocyte-derived IL-6 and leptin promote PLOD2 expression by activating the JAK/STAT3 and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways, thus promoting breast cancer metastasis.

Lysyl hydroxylases catalyze hydroxylation of collagen lysines, and sustain essential roles in extracellular matrix (ECM) maturation and remodeling. Malfunctions in these enzymes cause severe connective tissue disorders. Human lysyl hydroxylase 3 (LH3/PLOD3) bears multiple enzymatic activities, as it catalyzes collagen lysine hydroxylation and also their subsequent glycosylation. Our understanding of LH3 functions is currently hampered by lack of molecular structure information. Here, we present high resolution crystal structures of full-length human LH3 in complex with cofactors and donor substrates. The elongated homodimeric LH3 architecture shows two distinct catalytic sites at the N- and C-terminal boundaries of each monomer, separated by an accessory domain. The glycosyltransferase domain displays distinguishing features compared to other known glycosyltransferases. Known disease-related mutations map in close proximity to the catalytic sites. Collectively, our results provide a structural framework characterizing the multiple functions of LH3, and the molecular mechanisms of collagen-related diseases involving human lysyl hydroxylases. Lysyl hydroxylase 3 (LH3) catalyzes collagen lysine hydroxylation and their subsequent O-linked glycosylation. Here the authors provide mechanistic insights into the lysyl hydroxylase and glycosyltransferase activities of LH3 by determining the crystal structures of full-length human LH3 bound to cofactors and donor substrates.