Background: ␣B-Crystallin is therapeutic in animal models of multiple sclerosis and ischemia. Results: Crystallin binds ϳ70 plasma proteins; over half are members of the acute phase, coagulation, and complement pathways.
Conclusion:The heat shock protein can bind with apparent selectivity and modulate inflammation. Significance: The capacity of the heat shock protein to bind a spectrum of ligands represents a unique therapeutic reagent.
Amyloid forming proteins Tau, alpha B crystallin, and amyloid P protein are all found in lesions of multiple sclerosis (MS). Our previous work established that amyloidogenic peptides from the small heat shock protein, alpha B crystallin(HspB5), and from amyloid β fibrils, characteristic of Alzheimer’s disease, were therapeutic in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), reflecting aspects of the pathology of MS. To understand the molecular basis for the therapeutic effect, a set of amyloidogenic peptides composed of six amino acids, including those from tau, amyloid β A4, major prion protein (PrP), HspB5, amylin, serum amyloid P (SAP), and insulin B chain were shown to be anti-inflammatory, capable of reducing serological levels of IL-6, and attenuating paralysis in EAE. The chaperone function of the fibrils correlates with the therapeutic outcome. Fibrils composed of Tau 623–628 precipitated 49 plasma proteins, including apolipoprotein B-100, clusterin, transthyretin, and complement C3, supporting the hypothesis that the fibrils are active biological agents. Amyloid fibrils thus may provide benefit in MS and other neuroinflammatory disorders.
Metabolic cycles are a fundamental element of cellular and organismal function. Among the most critical in higher organisms is the Cori Cycle, the systemic cycling between lactate and glucose. Here, skeletal muscle-specific Mitochondrial Pyruvate Carrier (MPC) deletion in mice diverted pyruvate into circulating lactate. This switch disinhibited muscle fatty acid oxidation and drove Cori Cycling that contributed to increased energy expenditure. Loss of muscle MPC activity led to strikingly decreased adiposity with complete muscle mass and strength retention. Notably, despite decreasing muscle glucose oxidation, muscle MPC disruption increased muscle glucose uptake and whole-body insulin sensitivity. Furthermore, chronic and acute muscle MPC deletion accelerated fat mass loss on a normal diet after high fat diet-induced obesity. Our results illuminate the role of the skeletal muscle MPC as a whole-body carbon flux control point. They highlight the potential utility of modulating muscle pyruvate utilization to ameliorate obesity and type 2 diabetes.
Background: Coordinate regulation by kinases and 14-3-3 proteins regulates sodium transport through phosphorylation and inhibition of E3 ligases. Results: Phosphorylation at similar but distinct target motifs can either inhibit or stabilize E3 ligases. Conclusion: E3 ligases integrate multiple kinase inputs to regulate sodium transport and protein stability. Significance: These findings broaden our knowledge of how E3 ligases and sodium transport are regulated by phosphorylation.
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