Biology subjects

Baba, S.

Publications and source records attributed to Baba, S..

7 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2025

Carnosinylation of Cardiac Antigens Attenuates Immunogenic Responses and Improves Function in Failing Hearts

ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of carnosine on heart failure and to examine whether this is associated with reduced immunogenicity of oxidatively-generated aldehyde modified proteins. BackgroundHeart failure is associated with the accumulation of lipid derived aldehydes that form immunogenic protein adducts. However, the pathological impact of these aldehydes and aldehyde-modified proteins in heart failure has not been assessed. Histidyl dipeptides, such as carnosine found in the heart, bind to aldehydes, and their protein adducts. However, the effects of carnosine on heart failure or the antigenicity of aldehyde modified proteins have not been studied. MethodsMale, wild type C57BL/6J mice were subjected to either sham or transverse aortic constriction (TAC) surgery. To increase carnosine levels, they were placed on drinking water with or without {beta}-alanine prior to surgery, and for the remainder of the study. Cardiac function was evaluated by echocardiography, and the levels of histidyl dipeptides, immune cell populations, and CD4+ T cell activation were assessed via LC-MS/MS and flow cytometry, respectively. ResultsMyocardial levels of histidyl dipeptides decreased at both 3- and 8-weeks post-TAC. Supplementation with {beta}-alanine increased myocardial histidyl dipeptide levels, attenuated adverse cardiac remodeling, and reduced aldehyde stress. Carnosine formed covalent bond with protein-bound aldehydes in the failing heart, reducing their antigenic potential and decreasing activation of dendritic cells and CD4+ T cells in vitro. {beta}-alanine supplementation decreased the population of CD11b+CD64-Ly6G+ neutrophils and CD4+ CD44+ effector T cells in the failing heart. ConclusionsIncreasing myocardial carnosine levels reduces aldehyde stress, dampens maladaptive immune responses, and preserves cardiac function during heart failure. HIGHLIGHTSO_LILevels of endogenous dipeptide carnosine are depleted in failing hearts, while supplementation of the carnosine precurson {beta}-alanine increases myocardial carnosine and preserves cardiac function during heart failure. C_LIO_LIHeart failure is associated with increased activation and infiltration of CD4+ T cells and generation of aldehyde modified protein adducts in failing hearts. C_LIO_LIThe free aldehyde moiety of aldehyde modified protein adducts activates CD4+ T cells through dendritic cell presentation and capping this moiety with carnosine diminishes their antigencity. C_LIO_LIIncreasing myocardial carnosine levels diminishes aldehyde stress and activation of CD4+ T cells during heart failure. C_LI GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT O_FIG O_LINKSMALLFIG WIDTH=200 HEIGHT=199 SRC="FIGDIR/small/671840v2_ufig1.gif" ALT="Figure 1"> View larger version (42K): org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@28fc7corg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@d851ccorg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@1e24a5dorg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@18023b6_HPS_FORMAT_FIGEXP M_FIG C_FIG

immunology↗

bioRxiv2023

Transgenic mice overexpressing Pitx2 in the atria develop tachycardia-bradycardia syndrome

Sinoatrial node (SAN) dysfunction often accompanies supraventricular tachyarrhythmias such as atrial fibrillation (AF), which is referred to as tachycardia-bradycardia syndrome (TBS). Although there have been many studies on electrical remodeling in TBS, the regulatory mechanisms that cause electrical remodeling in the SAN and atrial muscles by chronic bradycardia or tachycardia have not yet been fully investigated. Here we hypothesized that Pitx2c, a transcription factor that plays a central role in the late aspects of left-right asymmetric morphogenesis, regulates an interrelationship between the SAN and the atrial muscles and is involved in TBS-like pathology. To test this hypothesis, we generated transgenic mice overexpressing Pitx2c specifically in the atria (OE mice). Although Pitx2c is normally expressed only in left atria, the expression levels of Pitx2c protein in the right atria were significantly increased to similar levels of those in the left atria of non-transgenic control mice (WT). We found that the heart rate of OE mice was significantly variable although the average heart rate was similar between WT and OE mice. Electrophysiological examination showed that OE mice exhibited prolonged SAN recovery time and higher AF inducibility. In addition, recording of the atrial monophasic action potential duration using a Langendorff perfusion system demonstrated shorter action potential duration in OE atria. Histological analysis revealed that SAN-specific ion channel HCN4-positive cells were hardly detected in the SAN of OE mice, along with ectopic expression in the right atria. Furthermore, transcription factors associated with sinus node formation were down-regulated in the right atria of OE mice. Therefore, SAN dysfunction by Pitx2 dysregulation predisposed OE mice to a TBS-like phenotype. We conclude that Pitx2c is a key regulator that defines SAN function in the atria.

developmental biology↗

bioRxiv2023

HOIL-1L deficiency induces cell cycle alteration which causes immaturity of myocyte and fibrogenesis

HOIL-1L deficiency was recently reported to be one of the causes of myopathy and dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). However, the mechanisms by which myopathy and DCM develop have not been clearly elucidated. Here, we sought to elucidate these mechanisms using the murine myoblast cell line C2C12 and disease-specific human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs). Myotubes were differentiated from control and HOIL-1L-KO C2C12 cells. Cardiomyocytes (CMs) were differentiated from control and patient-derived hiPSCs. We investigated the impact of HOIL-1L on differentiation of myotubes and CMs. Myotubes differentiated from HOIL-1L-KO C2C12 cells exhibited deteriorated differentiation and mitotic cell accumulation. CMs differentiaed from patient-derived hiPSCs had an abnormal morphology with a larger size and were excessively multinucleated compared with CMs differentiaed from control hiPSCs. Further analysis of hiPSC- derived CMs showed that HOIL-1L deficiency caused cell cycle alteration and mitotic cell accumulation. These results were supported by RNA sequencing of C2C12 cell-derived myotubes. In addition, SerpinE2, a cardiac fibrogenesis gene, was significantly upregulated in CMs differentiaed from patient-derived hiPSCs. These results demonstrate that abnormal cell maturation and fibrosis possibly contribute to the development of DCM and myopathy. In conclusion, HOIL-1L is an important intrinsic regulator of cell cycle-related myotube and CM maturation and cell proliferation.

cell biology↗

bioRxiv2022

The GPI-anchored Ly6 protein Belly roll regulates Drosophila melanogaster escape behaviors by modulating the excitability of nociceptive peptidergic interneurons

Appropriate modulation of escape behaviors in response to potentially damaging stimuli is essential for survival. Although nociceptive circuitry has been studied, it is poorly understood how genetic contexts affect the relevant escape responses. Using an unbiased genome-wide association analysis, we identified a Ly6/-neurotoxin family protein, Belly roll (Bero), which negatively regulates Drosophila nociceptive escape behavior. We show that Bero is expressed in abdominal leucokinin-producing neurons (ABLK neurons) and bero knockdown in ABLK neurons resulted in enhanced escape behavior. Furthermore, we demonstrated that ABLK neurons responded to the activation of nociceptors and initiated the behavior. Notably, bero knockdown reduced the persistent neuronal activity and increased the evoked nociceptive responses in ABLK neurons. Our findings reveal that Bero modulates an escape response by regulating distinct neuronal activities in ABLK neurons.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2021

Multiomics reveals the genomic, proteomic and metabolic influences of histidyl dipeptides on heart

Histidyl dipeptides, are synthesized in the heart via enzyme carnosine synthase (Carns), which facilitates glycolysis and glucose oxidation by proton buffering and attenuate ischemia and reperfusion injury. However, a composite understanding of the histidyl dipeptide mediated responses in the heart are lacking. We performed multilayer omics in the cardio specific Carns overexpressing mice, showing higher myocardial levels of histidyl dipeptides lead to extensive changes in microRNAs that could target the expression of contractile proteins and enzymes involved in {beta}-fatty acid oxidation and citric acid cycle (TCA). Similarly, global proteomics showed contractile function, fatty acid degradation and TCA cycle, pathways were enriched in the CarnsTg heart. Parallel with these changes, free fatty acids, and TCA intermediate-succinic acid were lower under aerobic and significantly attenuated under anaerobic conditions in the CarnsTg heart. Integration of multiomics data shows {beta}-fatty acid oxidation and TCA cycle exhibit correlative changes at all three levels in CarnsTg heart, suggesting histidyl dipeptides are critical regulators of myocardial structure, function and energetics.

systems biology↗

bioRxiv2021

Cluster Analysis of SARS-CoV-2 Gene using Deep Learning Autoencoder: Gene Profiling for Mutations and Transitions

We report on a method for analyzing the variant of coronavirus genes using autoencoder. Since coronaviruses have mutated rapidly and generated a large number of genotypes, an appropriate method for understanding the entire population is required. The method using autoencoder meets this requirement and is suitable for understanding how and when the variants emarge and disappear. For the over 30,000 SARS-CoV-2 ORF1ab gene sequences sampled globally from December 2019 to February 2021, we were able to represent a summary of their characteristics in a 3D plot and show the expansion, decline, and transformation of the virus types over time and by region. Based on ORF1ab genes, the SARS-CoV-2 viruses were classified into five major types (A, B, C, D, and E in the order of appearance): the virus type that originated in China at the end of 2019 (type A) practically disappeared in June 2020; two virus types (types B and C) have emerged in the United States and Europe since February 2020, and type B has become a global phenomenon. Type C is only prevalent in the U.S. and is suspected to be associated with high mortality, but this type also disappeared at the end of June. Type D is only found in Australia. Currently, the epidemic is dominated by types B and E.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2017

COPII-coated membranes function as transport carriers of intracellular procollagen-1

The coat protein complex II (COPII) is essential for the secretion of large cargo, such as the 300 nm precursor fibrils of procollagen I (PC1). Previous work has shown that the CUL3-KLHL12 complex increases the size of COPII vesicles to over 300 nm in diameter and accelerates the secretion of PC1; however, the role of large COPII vesicles as PC1 transport carriers was not unambiguously demonstrated. In this study, using stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy (STORM), correlated light electron microscopy (CLEM), and live cell imaging we report the existence of mobile COPII-coated vesicles that completely encapsulate the cargo PC1 and are physically separated from ER. We have also developed a cell-free COPII vesicle budding reaction that reconstitutes the capture of PC1 into large COPII vesicles. This process requires COPII proteins and the GTPase activity of the COPII subunit SAR1. We conclude from in vivo and in vitro evidence that large COPII vesicles are bona fide carriers of PC1.\n\nSummaryCOPII may play a direct or indirect role in the traffic of large protein complexes such as procollagen. Using high resolution imaging techniques in intact cells and in vitro reconstituted vesicles, Gorur et al. show that COPII coated vesicles carry procollagen1.

cell biology↗