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PubMed2025

Decoding Arginine Dimethylation Isomers via pH-Tuned Reactivity with Methylglyoxal: A Chemical Approach for Functional Proteomics.

Arginine dimethylation, encompassing asymmetric and symmetric configurations, represents a fundamental post-translational modification. Despite sharing identical chemical formulas, the two arginine dimethylation isomers exhibit different or even opposite biological effects. Therefore, it is necessary to determine their specific structure before conducting a further biological investigation. However, current methods for arginine dimethylation analysis face great challenges in efficient isomer differentiation, preventing the functional investigation of arginine dimethylation. To overcome this obstacle, herein, we introduce a novel chemical strategy leveraging pH-tuned reactivity with methylglyoxal (MGO) to decode these dimethylation isomers. By utilizing molecular dynamics simulation analysis, we revealed the different chemical reactivities of asymmetrically and symmetrically dimethylated arginine when reacted with MGO at different pH conditions. This property enabled the development of a pH-tuned chemical strategy by combining the MGO reaction with boronate affinity enrichment to simultaneously enrich and differentiate the dimethylation isomers. This strategy can effectively distinguish dimethylated arginine isomers in complex cell samples, and the good feasibility of this strategy was verified by orthogonal validation with the neutral loss. Of the obtained data set, this strategy identified sDMA at R112 of SNRPN, which is confirmed to be modified by PRMT5. Further functional analysis reveals its crucial role in maintaining protein stability and in regulating spliceosome assembly. Overall, by transforming the inherent pH sensitivity of MGO reactions into a powerful analytical tool, our work establishes the first chemical platform for functional proteomic dissection of arginine dimethylation isomers, which paves the way for further regulating mechanism investigations of protein methylation.

Pyruvaldehyde↗

PubMed2026

The alarmin interleukin-33 modulates platelet proteome, function, and biogenesis.

Platelets, traditionally recognized for their involvement in hemostasis and wound healing, also play a central role in immune regulation and inflammation. Their function and production adapt in response to inflammatory cues such as cytokines and danger-associated molecular patterns. Interleukin-33 (IL-33), an alarmin released during tissue damage, particularly in lung inflammation, has been implicated in influencing platelet biology, though its exact effects remain poorly understood. To clarify IL-33's role, we examined its impact on platelet production, proteome, adhesion, secretion, and aggregation using platelets from IL-33-deficient (IL-33 knockout [IL-33KO]) mice and IL-33 stimulation in vivo. Our results reveal that although platelets themselves do not express IL-33, platelets isolated from IL-33KO mice display altered proteomic signatures and reduced adhesion to fibrinogen, podoplanin, and laminin, alongside impaired thrombus formation under shear stress. IL-33 administration in vivo led to proteomic remodeling characterized by increased expression of inflammatory proteins, as well as changes in platelet morphology, including increased size, typically associated with de novo production. Using lung intravital microscopy, we visualized platelet fragmentation within the lung vasculature in real time, and observed enhanced fragmentation following IL-33 stimulation. Interestingly, ST2, the receptor for IL-33, is expressed in subsets of mouse and human megakaryocytes and hematopoietic progenitors, particularly those involved in a noncanonical pathway of thrombopoiesis that enables the rapid replenishment of platelets during inflammation, infection, and aging. Together, these findings identify IL-33 as a pivotal regulator of platelet function and production, linking inflammatory signaling to the dynamic regulation of thrombopoiesis.

Interleukin-33↗

PubMed2026

3D Proteomics: Structural, Functional, Chemical and Biomarker Discovery Proteomics With LiP-MS.

Protein structural dynamics drive changes in protein function, making the capture of such dynamics essential for interrogating biological systems. Here we review limited proteolysis coupled to mass spectrometry (LiP-MS), a structural and chemical proteomics method that uses changes in susceptibility to protease cleavage to profile proteome-wide protein structural changes within complex biological samples. In the decade since its development, LiP-MS has become a broadly used structural proteomics method, with peptide-level resolution. It has identified drug targets, delineated altered cellular pathways in response to complex perturbations, revealed structural information on otherwise challenging protein targets, and demonstrated the new concept of structural biomarkers of disease. Because LiP-MS simultaneously probes numerous types of molecular events, such as molecular binding, changes in enzyme activity, chemical modifications, allosteric conformational changes, aggregation, and unfolding, it supports a new proteomics workflow which we term 3D proteomics. This workflow enables the detection of specific functional sites within proteins that are altered upon perturbation, thereby guiding the generation of molecular hypotheses. Further, by globally profiling structural in addition to protein abundance changes, LiP-MS has proven able to greatly increase the information content of functional proteomics screens. In sum, LiP-MS has supported the development of a novel conceptual framework for generating, visualizing, and interpreting structural proteomics data with peptide level resolution, thereby comprehensively probing biological systems. Here we survey the applications of LiP-MS, discuss methodological variants developed by us and others, and describe the use of this new type of omics readout for structural, functional, chemical, and biomarker discovery proteomics.

Proteomics↗

PubMed2026

Functional and Proteomic Profiles of CD3(+) Plasma-Derived Small Extracellular Vesicles Differentiate Cancer Patients From Healthy Donors.

Small extracellular vesicles (sEV) released by T cells play a key role in immune regulation. Immune capture with anti-CD3 antibodies was used to isolate and study T cell-derived CD3(+)sEV from the plasma of patients with melanoma (MPs) or healthy donors (HDs). Functional responses induced in recipient target cells by CD3(+)sEV of MPs differed from responses induced by CD3(+)sEV of HDs. Approximating functions mediated by melanoma cell-derived sEV (MTEX), CD3(+)sEV of MPs reduced metabolic activity and proliferation of T cells while promoting activity in Mel526 cell targets. Proteomics profiling confirmed functional differences between CD3(+)sEV of MPs and HDs. Of 294 sEV-specific proteins identified in CD3(+)sEV, 226 were detected in the parent T cell proteome, confirming that the CD3(+)sEV proteome mimics that of the parent T lymphocytes. Among them were 66 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) that differentiated vesicles from MPs and HDs. These DEPs were associated with processes linked to cancer-related functions. DEPs upregulated in CD3(+)sEV of MPs were associated with RHO-GTPase, cytokine, and MAPK signaling pathways. Thus, T cells of MPs were reprogrammed by MTEX to produce CD3(+)sEV that functionally resembled MTEX, partly recapitulated features of the tumor proteome, and differed from CD3(+)sEV of HDs. In cancer, the TEX-rewired T cells produce CD3(+)sEV that potentially could serve as a liquid biopsy of patients' T cells.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Proteomic responses of the oil palm pest Metisa plana (Psychidae) to farnesyl acetate exposure.

Metisa plana Walker (Lepidoptera: Psychidae) is a major defoliator of oil palm in Malaysia, causing substantial economic losses. Farnesyl acetate (FA), a sesquiterpenoid compound, has been proposed as a potential insecticidal agent against M. plana, yet its molecular impact on larval physiology remains poorly understood. Here, we employed label-free quantitative proteomics, functional enrichment analysis, and targeted transcript assessment to characterize the temporal proteomic response of M. plana larvae at 7 and 14 days after treatment (DAT) with FA. Principal component analysis revealed robust separation between treated and control samples at both time points, indicating sustained treatment-driven proteomic restructuring. Early exposure (7 DAT) elicited a heterogeneous response involving stress-associated proteins, redox enzymes, and cytoskeletal regulators, whereas later exposure (14 DAT) produced a consolidated profile characterized by metabolic reprogramming, downregulation of ribosomal proteins, induction of heat shock proteins, and enrichment of RNA surveillance and mitochondrial pathways. Targeted transcript analysis qualitatively supported proteomic trends for HSP83 and aldehyde dehydrogenase X, although limited amplification precluded quantitative inference. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that FA exposure drives a shift from acute proteomic perturbation toward a maintenance-oriented physiological state, prioritizing proteostasis, energy management, and stress adaptation over growth and development. This integrated molecular perspective provides mechanistic insight into the chronic effects of FA, highlighting its potential to suppress larval performance and informing the development of biorational, physiology-based pest management strategies in non-model insects.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Hidden proteins encoded by non-canonical open reading frames: A review.

There is increasing evidence that translation is not limited to annotated protein-coding genes. Ribosome profiling sequencing, mass spectrometry-based proteomics, and immunopeptidomics have identified the productive translation of non-canonical open reading frames (ORFs). This suggests that the functional proteome includes not only conserved proteins but also proteins hidden in non-coding RNAs and de novo proteins. Some of these translated products are functional peptides, while others may be non-functional, potentially arising from evolutionary events. Several non-canonical ORF-encoded peptides have been found to regulate multiple physiological and pathological functions, particularly in cancer, immunity, and inflammation, indicating that they have potential as biomarkers and novel therapeutic targets. To better understand the diversity of functional peptides and translated non-canonical ORFs based on existing data, we summarize their classification according to transcriptional features and supporting evidence, including non-canonical ORFs located in ncRNAs and canonical mRNAs. This review provides a concise summary of the origin, discovery methods, and classification of non-canonical ORFs. It offers insights into the origins and functions of non-canonical ORF-encoded peptides from an evolutionary perspective, while also exploring the biological functions and regulatory mechanisms of these non-canonical ORF-encoded hidden proteins in tumorigenesis and progression.

Open Reading Frames↗

PubMed2026

Transcriptomic and proteomic signatures underlying nymphal adaptation and foam production in the forage pest Mahanarva spectabilis.

The spittlebug Mahanarva spectabilis (Distant, 1909) (Hemiptera: Cercopidae) is an important pest of forage grasses in South America, where its nymphs cause pasture damage by feeding on xylem sap and producing a characteristic foam that protects them against environmental stressors. To investigate the molecular basis of this adaptation, we integrated RNA-seq analysis of nymphs with LC-MS/MS proteomics of the Batelli gland, the primary source of foam secretion. De novo assembly of 100,666 unigenes revealed broad functional diversity, with strong representation of detoxification enzymes (CYP450s, GSTs, UGTs, carboxylesterases), transporters and ion pumps, cuticle proteins, and stress- and immunity-related genes. Nearly 16% of loci exhibited alternative splicing, particularly within detoxification, chemosensory and osmoregulatory gene families, highlighting evidence of transcriptomic variability. Signal peptide and secreted protein predictions identified 168 high-confidence candidate secreted proteins, including detoxification enzymes, proteases, structural proteins and immune-related factors, several of which are consistent with antimicrobial and surfactant-related functions. Proteomic profiling of the Batelli gland confirmed 500 proteins, enriched in chaperones, metabolic enzymes, detoxification pathways and osmoregulatory components, with the most abundant proteins corresponding to Hsp70 chaperones, ATP synthases, cuticle proteins and carbonic anhydrases. Together, these results provide an integrative transcriptomic and proteomic overview for M. spectabilis nymphs, highlighting genes and proteins associated with xylem feeding, foam production and responses potentially related to environmental stress tolerance. This comprehensive dataset not only advances the understanding of spittlebug biology but also identifies candidate molecular targets that may inform innovative strategies for controlling nymphal stages and mitigating spittlebug damage in forage systems.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Analysis of Confounding Factors in Reactive Cysteine Profiling Reveals Enhanced Chromatin-Protein Association via CDK7 Inhibition by THZ1.

Recent advances in activity-based proteome profiling (ABPP) have enabled the global mapping of cysteine ligandability, uncovering novel biological insights and opportunities for identifying disease vulnerabilities. While both live-cell-based and native-lysate-based ABPP have been applied, how cysteine ligandability differs between these systems and what factors influence these measurements remain unclear. Building on our previous development of a high-throughput TMT-ABPP workflow for native lysates, here we adapt the protocol for live cells and systematically compare cysteine ligandability across both platforms. Our analysis reveals three major contributors to the discrepancies: in-cellular cysteine accessibility, protein abundance changes, and protein relocalization. Notably, we highlight that the CDK7 inhibitor THZ1 induces substantial protein relocalization and promotes chromatin binding. Together, these results provide a practical framework for ABPP experimental design and data interpretation, supporting the more accurate application of ABPP in functional proteomics and drug discovery.

Cysteine↗

PubMed2025

Long COVID in Elderly COPD Patients: Clinical Features, Pulmonary Function Decline, and Proteomic Insights.

BACKGROUND: Elderly patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) face a heightened risk of developing long coronavirus disease (COVID); however the exact clinical characteristics and underlying mechanisms remain unclear. METHODS: We enrolled 85 elderly COPD patients, of whom 43 reported newly onset persistent fatigue (the most dominant complaint of long COVID) within 1 year after severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, and they were allocated to the Long-COVID group. The remaining 42 patients were assigned to the Control group. Patients completed questionnaires, pulmonary function tests, chest CT, routine laboratory tests, and blood proteomic analysis. RESULTS: Long-COVID patients had a longer course of COPD (> 5 years, 76.8% vs 52.4%) and duration of SARS-CoV-2 infection (10.0 days vs 7.0 days) (All P < 0.05), higher symptom burden, worse pulmonary ventilation function and a more rapid decrease in DLCO (All P < 0.05). Proteomic analysis indicated disruptions in inflammation and energy metabolism, potentially underlying long COVID in these patients. The machine learning model identified wheezing, the duration of SARS-CoV-2 infection, EIF2S3 (eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2 subunit gamma), current FEV1/FVC (%), and the course of COPD as key features distinguishing Long-COVID patients, and exhibited excellent performance. CONCLUSION: Elderly COPD patients with a longer COPD course and duration of COVID-19 are more prone to develop long COVID, with decreased pulmonary ventilation and diffusion ability. Disordered inflammation regulation and energy metabolism may be the potential mechanisms, highlighting the importance of monitoring inflammation and metabolic dysregulation in elderly COPD patients after recovery from COVID-19.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Comparative proteomics reveals distinct functions and localization of invasive Entamoeba histolytica and non-invasive Entamoeba moshkovskii proteins.

BACKGROUND: Entamoeba histolytica is a pathogenic protozoan accountable for amoebiasis, while Entamoeba moshkovskii is considered non-invasive. Despite morphological similarity, the molecular mechanisms underlying their different pathogenicity remain largely undefined. METHODS: Trophozoite proteins from axenic cultures of E. histolytica and E. moshkovskii were separated and identified using GeLC-MS/MS, and classified using Gene Ontology. Selected and differentially expressed proteins were validated by peptide-specific antibody production, ELISA, and immunofluorescence to determine cellular localization. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: A total of 1,077 and 1,201 proteins were identified from E. histolytica and E. moshkovskii, respectively. The 801 of Entamoeba common proteins included kinases, GTPase-activating proteins, and heat shock proteins, reflecting conserved cellular processes. E. histolytica-unique proteins involved in nitrogen compound metabolism, vesicle-mediated transport, and catalytic activities, whereas E. moshkovskii proteins were related to lipid metabolism and environmental resilience. Subcellular localization revealed species-specific distribution of MmpL and AIG1-family proteins, suggesting potential roles in pathogenicity and host-immune response. A large proportion of hypothetical proteins was identified, highlighting gaps and opportunities for future study. CONCLUSIONS: Our study highlights conserved and divergent functions and cellular locations of Entamoeba species-specific proteins as insights for distinct pathogenicity and adaptation. MmpL and AIG1 proteins were proposed as potential targets for further diagnostic and therapeutic development.

Proteomics↗

PubMed2026

ProtPen Combines Sequence- and Structure-based Approaches to Facilitate Protein Function Predictions on a Proteome-wide Scale.

Proteins of unknown function represent a significant gap in our understanding of biological processes, encompassing large portions of the proteomes of many organisms, especially prokaryotes. Addressing this gap is critical to understanding the biology and pathogenicity of such organisms. We introduce ProtPen, an open-source pipeline that facilitates protein function prediction by combining eggNOG-mapper for sequence-based annotation with Foldseek for rapid structural similarity searches using AlphaFold-predicted protein structures. Annotation results from both tools are merged and enriched with UniProt metadata to produce a comprehensive output suitable for downstream analysis. The pipeline requires only a FASTA input file with UniProt identifiers, and is designed to analyze data sets on the scale of whole proteomes. Benchmarking on a curated data set of well-characterized Pseudomonas aeruginosa proteins demonstrated an annotation accuracy of >90%, and highlighted the complementarity of sequence- and structure-based methods. Further evaluation of ProtPen included its application to biologically relevant data sets, comprising proteins of unknown function that exhibited significant differential abundances in a proteomics data set of P. aeruginosa, and uncharacterized glycoproteins from Haloferax volcanii. ProtPen is readily extensible to incorporate additional protein function prediction tools. In summary, this pipeline facilitates the systemwide annotation of proteins of unknown function from proteomic data sets and whole proteomes.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa↗

PubMed2025

Comprehensive discovery and functional characterization of the noncanonical proteome.

The systematic identification and functional characterization of noncanonical translation products, such as novel peptides, will facilitate the understanding of the human genome and provide new insights into cell biology. Here, we constructed a high-coverage peptide sequencing reference library with 11,668,944 open reading frames and employed an ultrafiltration tandem mass spectrometry assay to identify novel peptides. Through these methods, we discovered 8945 previously unannotated peptides from normal gastric tissues, gastric cancer tissues and cell lines, nearly half of which were derived from noncoding RNAs. Moreover, our CRISPR screening revealed that 1161 peptides are involved in tumor cell proliferation. The presence and physiological function of a subset of these peptides, selected based on screening scores, amino acid length, and various indicators, were verified through Flag-knockin and multiple other methods. To further characterize the potential regulatory mechanisms involved, we constructed a framework based on artificial intelligence structure prediction and peptide‒protein interaction network analysis for the top 100 candidates and revealed that these cancer-related peptides have diverse subcellular locations and participate in organelle-specific processes. Further investigation verified the interacting partners of pep1-nc-OLMALINC, pep5-nc-TRHDE-AS1, pep-nc-ZNF436-AS1 and pep2-nc-AC027045.3, and the functions of these peptides in mitochondrial complex assembly, energy metabolism, and cholesterol metabolism, respectively. We showed that pep5-nc-TRHDE-AS1 and pep2-nc-AC027045.3 had substantial impacts on tumor growth in xenograft models. Furthermore, the dysregulation of these four peptides is closely correlated with clinical prognosis. Taken together, our study provides a comprehensive characterization of the noncanonical proteome, and highlights critical roles of these previously unannotated peptides in cancer biology.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Role of semaphorin 4f in cardiac fibroblasts to regulate matrix production through actin remodeling and YAP/TAZ activation.

Cardiac fibrosis remains a critical determinant of adverse outcomes in heart disease, yet effective anti-fibrotic therapies are lacking. While multiple semaphorin family members participate in cardiovascular pathophysiology, the role of semaphorin 4f (Sema4f) in cardiac fibrosis remains unexplored. This study investigates the role and mechanisms of Sema4f in fibrotic remodeling post-myocardial infarction (MI). We employed flow cytometry to characterize cell type-specific Sema4f expression patterns in post-MI hearts. Lineage-specific knockout mice (fibroblast vs. myeloid) were subjected to left anterior descending ligation to assess functional consequences. Proteomic analysis of Sema4f-deficient cardiac fibroblasts was conducted to identify downstream effectors. Key pathways were subsequently validated using pharmacological inhibitors. We found that Sema4f expression was markedly upregulated during the fibrotic phase post-MI, primarily due to fibroblast activation. Fibroblast-, but not myeloid-, specific Sema4f deletion significantly reduced fibrosis and improved cardiac function. Proteomic profiling revealed that Sema4f deficiency led to downregulation of pro-fibrotic gene expression, which was associated with impaired actin cytoskeletal remodeling and decreased nuclear translocation of YAP/TAZ. Pharmacological inhibition of either actin remodeling or YAP/TAZ activity attenuated fibrosis, whereas YAP/TAZ activation abolished the anti-fibrotic effects of Sema4f knockout. Our study provides the first evidence demonstrating the functional role of Sema4f in cardiac fibroblast activation and fibrosis progression. We have identified a fibroblast-specific mechanism mediated by the Sema4f-actin cytoskeleton-YAP/TAZ axis, offering novel mechanistic insights into fibrosis regulation and revealing a promising therapeutic target for cardiac fibrosis with potential clinical applications.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Elucidating the In Vitro Adverse Effect of Functionalized Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes Against Breast Cancer Cells at the Proteomics Level.

The tremendous therapeutic potential of carbon-based nanomaterials (CNMs) has been limited by inconsistent data regarding the nanotoxicity assessment. Although a bulk of studies have been performed to assess the in vitro cytotoxicity mechanism of CNMs, the exact factors responsible for the cytotoxicity of CNMs have not been fully understood. With the rapid advancement of mass spectrometry technologies, proteomics has emerged as a powerful strategy for systematically investigating the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying toxicity induced by nanomaterials. This study examined the in vitro cytotoxicity of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) in human MCF-7 breast cancer cells by conducting a comparative proteome-level analysis using mass spectrometry. Initially, the characterized SWCNTs were incubated with MCF-7 cells for 3, 6, and 24 h. Proteins were subsequently extracted from each treatment group and subjected to nano-liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (nLC-MS/MS) analysis. The relative abundance of the identified proteins was determined by comparison with the control group, and differential expression patterns, including upregulated and downregulated proteins, were assessed. A total of 3482 unique protein groups were identified across all exposure periods. Among these, 3466 protein groups were detected following 3 h of exposure, 3469 following 6 h of exposure, and 3480 following 24 h of exposure. Compared with the control group, the identified differentially expressed proteins exhibited fold changes ranging from 2-fold to 20-fold across the incubation periods. In total, 70 proteins were found to be significantly regulated following SWCNT exposure. Of the differentially expressed proteins, 45 were significantly upregulated, whereas 25 were significantly downregulated. Visualization of these regulations over time was shown in a heatmap of log2-transformed fold-change values to explore time-specific proteomic alterations. Functional enrichment analysis of these proteins also showed that the regulated proteins were significantly associated with Reactome pathways, including ER-to-Golgi anterograde transport, Golgi-to-ER retrograde transport, COPI-mediated vesicle trafficking, regulation of insulin-like growth factor transport and uptake by insulin-like growth factor-binding proteins, protein metabolism, and posttranslational protein modification. Furthermore, a systematic comparison of previous studies within the present findings was provided to situate our study within the broader context of understanding CNT-induced cellular toxicity. Collectively, these findings provided an important proteomic evidence of the adverse effects of SWCNTs on MCF-7 cells. Furthermore, this study showed a comprehensive proteomic landscape of cellular responses to SWCNT exposure, contributing to a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying SWCNT-induced cytotoxicity and bridging the gap between protein regulation and the resulting cellular responses. In this study, we characterized the proteomic landscape of MCF-7 cells following SWCNT exposure, revealing molecular mechanisms associated with cellular responses and cytotoxicity. The identified differentially expressed proteins established a link between altered protein regulation and SWCNT-induced cellular effects. Moreover, these proteins need to be further validated in different cell models and would potentially represent promising candidates for the identification of novel molecular targets involved in SWCNT-induced cytotoxicity.

MCF‐7 cells↗

PubMed2026

Proteomic Profiling of Pulmonary Function and Cardiovascular Disease Risk in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary function is linked to cardiovascular disease risk; however, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. We aimed to identify protein biomarkers associated with pulmonary function and examine their impact on incident chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, coronary heart disease, heart failure, and all-cause mortality. METHODS: Data from White and Black Americans in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study (visit 2: N=11 354, mean age=57 years; visit 5: N=3517, mean age=75 years), a prospective cohort, were analyzed. Linear regression assessed associations between protein levels and pulmonary function measures, including forced expiratory volume in 1 second and forced vital capacity. The impact of the identified proteins on incident chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, coronary heart disease, heart failure, and mortality was estimated using logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards models. Pathway enrichment and Mendelian randomization explored underlying biological functions and causal effects. RESULTS: Of 4766 proteins analyzed, 364 were cross-sectionally associated with forced expiratory volume in 1 second (and forced vital capacity (false discovery rate<0.05). Ninety-four and 270 proteins had concordant positive and negative effects, respectively. Five pathways related to pulmonary and cardiac function were enriched. Of the 364 proteins, 112 were linked to all 4 outcomes, where 86 were associated with increased risk (odds ratio/hazard ratio [OR/HR], 1.05-1.42) and 26 with reduced risk (OR/HR, 0.69-0.96). Six proteins (STAT3 [signal transducer and activator of transcription 3], MIC-1 [growth differentiation factor 15], apoA-II [apolipoprotein A-II], TPST1 [protein-tyrosine sulfotransferase 1], integrin a1b1 [integrin alpha-I: beta-1 complex], and BLC [C-X-C motif chemokine 13]) showed potential inverse causal effects on with forced expiratory volume in 1 second and forced vital capacity, and integrin a1b1 demonstrated consistent inverse associations with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, coronary heart disease, and heart failure risks. CONCLUSIONS: Proteins associated with pulmonary function may influence CVD risk. Six proteins, including integrin a1b1, represent promising targets for future interventions.

Aged↗

PubMed2026

TNFα-induced endothelial extracellular vesicles regulate astrocyte function: an integrated transcriptomic and proteomic study.

Endothelial cells and astrocytes are critical structural and functional components of the blood-brain barrier. In many neuroinflammatory diseases, endothelial cells are among the first to respond to inflammatory stimuli and release extracellular vesicles (EVs). However, whether inflammatory stimulation alters EV RNA cargo and subsequently regulates astrocyte function remains unclear. In this study, we performed integrated RNA sequencing and proteomic analyses to investigate the effects of TNFα-stimulated endothelial EVs on astrocytes. RNA profiling revealed significant alterations in EV cargo after TNFα stimulation, including 867 upregulated and 577 downregulated mRNAs, 317 upregulated and 15 downregulated lncRNAs, and 88 upregulated and 62 downregulated miRNAs. The results of functional enrichment analysis suggested that altered EV RNAs may primarily promote inflammatory responses, cell migration, and RNA splicing in astrocytes while reducing their regulatory effects on neuronal projection and calcium homeostasis. Further integrative analysis of EV RNAs and astrocytic proteomics revealed key overlapping targets, including upregulated expression of ICAM1, SOD2, TFPI2, and TNFAIP8, whereas NFKBIA expression was consistently decreased. Network analysis revealed NF-κB as the central regulatory node. Reduced levels of EV-derived NFKBIA mRNA were associated with decreased IκBα protein levels in astrocytes, which promoted NF-κB activation and inflammatory cytokine release. Finally, overexpression of IκBα in astrocytes significantly attenuated TNFα EV-induced IL-1β and IL-6 secretion. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that TNFα-stimulated endothelial EVs coordinately regulate astrocyte function through mRNA, lncRNA, and miRNA cargo and that the IκBα/NF-κB axis may be a key mechanism underlying endothelial EV-mediated inflammatory disruption of the blood-brain barrier.

Astrocytes↗

PubMed2026

Big data analytics for CLEC5A dynamics based on single cell genomics and proteomics reveal its diverse functions in human diseases.

BACKGROUND: CLEC5A (C-type lectin domain family 5 member A) is an innate immune receptor implicated in inflammatory signaling, contributing to hyperinflammatory responses in infections and sterile inflammation. However, CLEC5A dynamics in human diseases remain to be identified. Here, we systematically characterized CLEC5A dynamics in humans across cells, tissues, and disease states, and to explore the functional significance of CLEC5A in macrophage activation based on single-cell genomics. METHODS: With multi-omics (scRNA-seq, proteomics and big data analytics), we analyzed extensive human transcriptomic datasets (>42,000 samples) to profile CLEC5A expression by cell type, tissue, and disease. Single-nucleus RNA-seq (snRNA-seq) from pediatric congenital heart disease and a virtual CLEC5A gene knockout were also performed to characterize CLEC5A dynamics in humans. RESULTS: CLEC5A is highly enriched in innate immune cells, particularly in macrophages and neutrophils. Baseline CLEC5A in most tissues is low, but it is markedly upregulated in inflammatory and infectious diseases. CLEC5A expression has sex-specific differences in certain organs. Single-cell analysis showed that CLEC5A can be considered novel marker of proinflammatory macrophages with elevated cytokine production, antigen presentation, and impaired phagocytosis. Virtual CLEC5A knockout analysis identified coordinated perturbation of immune-regulatory pathways and overlapping genes linking CLEC5A to macrophage activation networks. CONCLUSION: CLEC5A is predominantly expressed in myeloid cells and acts as a key amplifier of inflammation in human diseases. Our findings highlight CLEC5A as a potential biomarker and therapeutic target in myeloid-driven hyperinflammatory conditions, warranting further experimental and translational validation.

Humans↗

PubMed2025

Venomics of the Arabian saw-scaled viper (Echis coloratus) through transcriptome-guided proteomics and in vitro functional profiling.

The Arabian saw-scaled viper (Echis coloratus) is among the snakes of highest medical relevance in the Middle East and North Africa. However, to date, its venom has been investigated in a very limited number of studies, and much remains unknown regarding its compositional and functional properties. By integrating proteotranscriptomics with bioactivity profiling, we present a comprehensive transcriptome-level catalogue of E. coloratus venom components and their associated biological activities. Our analysis identified 183 venom components belonging to 17 distinct protein families. Relative toxin abundances revealed that 92% of the venom proteome is composed of C-type lectin and C-type lectin-related protein (CTL), L-amino acid oxidase (LAAO), phospholipase A2 (PLA2), snake venom serine protease (SVSP), and snake venom metalloproteinase (SVMP), with CTL and PLA2 alone accounting for 73% of the total composition. Bioassays targeting key aspects of viperid envenomation demonstrated potent protease and PLA2 activity in a concentration-dependent manner. In contrast, Factor Xa-like, plasmin-like, and haemolytic activities were negligible. Marked cytotoxicity was observed at the highest concentration tested (i.e., 25 μg/ml) in the mammalian cell lines MDCK II and Calu-3, whereas cytotoxic effects were minimal at lower concentrations. These findings highlight the complexity and potency of E. coloratus venom, and provide a valuable foundation for improving our understanding of envenomation caused by this species.

Animals↗