Open Access Published by De Gruyter

Volume 2 Issue 4 - Special Issue on Metabolism

Issue of Medical Review

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Contents
Journal Overview

Publicly Available October 3, 2022

Editorial

Open Access September 22, 2022

Trimethylamine-N-oxide is an important target for heart and brain diseases

Shusi Ding, Jing Xue, Qi Zhang, Lemin Zheng

Page range: 321-323

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Perspectives

Open Access September 20, 2022

The polarizable and reprogrammable identity of Kupffer cells in Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis

Tarik Zahr, Kevin Sun, Li Qiang

Page range: 324-327

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Abstract

Kupffer cells (KCs) are the resident macrophages of the liver with similar origins to myeloid-derived macrophages. Once differentiated, KCs exhibit distinct cellular machinery capable of longevity and self-renewal, making them a crucial player in promoting effective intrahepatic communication. However, this gets compromised in disease states like Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH), where the loss of embryo-derived KCs (EmKCs) is observed. Despite this, other KC-like and KC-derived populations start to form and contribute to a variety of roles in NASH pathogenesis, often adopting a NASH-associated molecular signature. Here we offer a brief overview of recent reports describing KC polarization and reprogramming in the liver. We describe the complexities of KC cellular identity, their proposed ability to reprogram to fibroblast-like and endothelial-like cells, and the potential implications in NASH.

Open Access September 13, 2022

Challenges and opportunities in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis

Xiaobo Wang

Page range: 328-330

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Abstract

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) has emerged as the leading cause of chronic liver disease worldwide and is rapidly increasing in prevalence due to the obesity epidemic. There are currently no Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved drugs to treat NASH, and therefore a critical need exists for novel therapies that can halt or reverse the progression to hepatic fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Clinical trials to date using single drugs to treat NASH have shown disappointing efficacy. Combination therapies to attack different targets underlying disease pathogenesis of NASH are being explored as a strategy currently. Novel RNA therapies are also being developed to target previously “undruggable” targets and are close to the maturity necessary to be viable therapeutic approaches for the treatment of NASH and fibrosis. Identifying circulating biomarkers of fibrosis could serve as a valuable, non-invasive diagnostic tool to guide clinical practice. Despite progress in translational and clinical research, one of the major reasons for the absence of effective therapeutics is our incomplete understanding of the pathophysiology that underlies the progression from steatosis to NASH and its most deadly consequence-fibrosis. Multi-omics platforms will help to drive effective precision medicine development in NASH and hepatology.

Reviews

Open Access September 15, 2022

Crosstalk between bone and other organs

Wanqiong Yuan, Chunli Song

Page range: 331-348

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Abstract

Bone has long been considered as a silent organ that provides a reservoir of calcium and phosphorus, traditionally. Recently, further study of bone has revealed additional functions as an endocrine organ connecting systemic organs of the whole body. Communication between bone and other organs participates in most physiological and pathological events and is responsible for the maintenance of homeostasis. Here, we present an overview of the crosstalk between bone and other organs. Furthermore, we describe the factors mediating the crosstalk and review the mechanisms in the development of potential associated diseases. These connections shed new light on the pathogenesis of systemic diseases and provide novel potential targets for the treatment of systemic diseases.

Open Access July 1, 2022

Adiponectin: friend or foe in obesity and inflammation

Liping Luo, Meilian Liu

Page range: 349-362

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Abstract

Adiponectin is an adipokine predominantly produced by fat cells, circulates and exerts insulin-sensitizing, cardioprotective and anti-inflammatory effects. Dysregulation of adiponectin and/or adiponectin signaling is implicated in a number of metabolic diseases such as obesity, insulin resistance, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. However, while the insulin-sensitizing and cardioprotective effects of adiponectin have been widely appreciated in the field, the obesogenic and anti-inflammatory effects of adiponectin are still of much debate. Understanding the physiological function of adiponectin is critical for adiponectin-based therapeutics for the treatment of metabolic diseases.

Open Access August 9, 2022

Leptin signaling and leptin resistance

Jiarui Liu, Futing Lai, Yujia Hou, Ruimao Zheng

Page range: 363-384

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Abstract

With the prevalence of obesity and associated comorbidities, studies aimed at revealing mechanisms that regulate energy homeostasis have gained increasing interest. In 1994, the cloning of leptin was a milestone in metabolic research. As an adipocytokine, leptin governs food intake and energy homeostasis through leptin receptors (LepR) in the brain. The failure of increased leptin levels to suppress feeding and elevate energy expenditure is referred to as leptin resistance, which encompasses complex pathophysiological processes. Within the brain, LepR-expressing neurons are distributed in hypothalamus and other brain areas, and each population of the LepR-expressing neurons may mediate particular aspects of leptin effects. In LepR-expressing neurons, the binding of leptin to LepR initiates multiple signaling cascades including janus kinase (JAK)–signal transducers and activators of transcription (STAT) phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)-protein kinase B (AKT), extracellular regulated protein kinase (ERK), and AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling, etc., mediating leptin actions. These findings place leptin at the intersection of metabolic and neuroendocrine regulations, and render leptin a key target for treating obesity and associated comorbidities. This review highlights the main discoveries that shaped the field of leptin for better understanding of the mechanism governing metabolic homeostasis, and guides the development of safe and effective interventions to treat obesity and associated diseases.

Open Access August 2, 2022

Potential diagnostic biomarkers for schizophrenia

Weihua Yue, Hailiang Huang, Jubao Duan

Page range: 385-416

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Abstract

Schizophrenia (SCH) is a complex and severe mental disorder with high prevalence, disability, mortality and carries a heavy disease burden, the lifetime prevalence of SCH is around 0.7%–1.0%, which has a profound impact on the individual and society. In the clinical practice of SCH, key problems such as subjective diagnosis, experiential treatment, and poor overall prognosis are still challenging. In recent years, some exciting discoveries have been made in the research on objective biomarkers of SCH, mainly focusing on genetic susceptibility genes, metabolic indicators, immune indices, brain imaging, electrophysiological characteristics. This review aims to summarize the biomarkers that may be used for the prediction and diagnosis of SCH.

Open Access June 29, 2022

Astrocytes: the neglected stars in the central nervous system and drug addiction

Wenjun Chen, Shiqiu Meng, Ying Han, Jie Shi

Page range: 417-426

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Abstract

With the advent of improved tools to examine the astrocytes, which have been believed to play a supportive role in the central nervous system (CNS) for years, their participation in the operation of the CNS and drug addiction was unveiled. Assisting the formation and function of the CNS, astrocytes are involved in physiological and pathological brain activities. Drug addiction is a pervasive psychiatric disorder, characterized by compulsive drug-taking behavior and high rate of relapse, impacting individual health and society stability and safety. When exposed to drugs of abuse, astrocytes go through a series of alterations, contributing to the development of addiction. Here we review how astrocytes contribute to the CNS and drug addiction. We hope that understanding the interaction between addictive drugs and astrocytes may help discover new mechanisms underlying the addiction and produce novel therapeutic treatments.

Special Review

Open Access September 14, 2022

Proteomics research of SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 disease

Nan Zhang, Siyuan Wang, Catherine C.L. Wong

Page range: 427-445

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Abstract

Currently, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is still spreading in a global scale, exerting a massive health and socioeconomic crisis. Deep insights into the molecular functions of the viral proteins and the pathogenesis of this infectious disease are urgently needed. In this review, we comprehensively describe the proteome of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and summarize their protein interaction map with host cells. In the protein interaction network between the virus and the host, a total of 787 host prey proteins that appeared in at least two studies or were verified by co-immunoprecipitation experiments. Together with 29 viral proteins, a network of 1762 proximal interactions were observed. We also review the proteomics results of COVID-19 patients and proved that SARS-CoV-2 hijacked the host’s translation system, post-translation modification system, and energy supply system via viral proteins, resulting in various immune disorders, multiple cardiomyopathies, and cholesterol metabolism diseases.

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CN: CN 10-1793/R
On-line ISSN: 2749-9642
Print ISSN: 2097-0733 (applies for copies in China)

Medical Review is a peer reviewed open access journal affiliate to Peking University Health Science Center. MR publishes high-quality internationally competitive review articles on cutting-edge progress and achievement from various areas of medical science, specifically focuses on clinical medicine, basic medicine, preventive medicine, medical ethics and multidisciplinary and emerging topics. MR is also committed to promote fundamental benefits among medical research communities, decision-makers and the public by conscientiously reviewing strategical and macro-level policies on medical-related issues and public health.

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Volume 2 Issue 4 - Special Issue on Metabolism

Issue of Medical Review

Frontmatter

Trimethylamine-N-oxide is an important target for heart and brain diseases

The polarizable and reprogrammable identity of Kupffer cells in Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis

Abstract

Challenges and opportunities in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis

Abstract

Crosstalk between bone and other organs

Abstract

Adiponectin: friend or foe in obesity and inflammation

Abstract

Leptin signaling and leptin resistance

Abstract

Potential diagnostic biomarkers for schizophrenia

Abstract

Astrocytes: the neglected stars in the central nervous system and drug addiction

Abstract

Proteomics research of SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 disease

Abstract