{"title":"Role of lncRNAs in pathophysiology of obesity","authors":"Vikram Krishnappa Shettigar, Venkata Naga Srikanth Garikipati","doi":"10.1016/j.cophys.2025.100832","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cophys.2025.100832","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Obesity is a growing problem worldwide, with its pathophysiology being keenly explored. Previously, the noncoding transcriptome was considered transcriptional noise with no functional relevance. However, emerging evidence suggests a critical role for noncoding RNAs, especially long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), in obesity. Several lncRNAs have been identified that facilitate the development of obesity (such as <em>LINK-A)</em> or resist obesity (such as lnc266). These findings emphasize the importance of the study of lncRNA, which could be the master regulators of disease progression and the key to the development of novel therapeutics.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":52156,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Physiology","volume":"44 ","pages":"Article 100832"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-05-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144072191","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Mitochondrial connection to Alzheimer’s disease and heart failure","authors":"Anupriya Sinha , Natasha Jaiswal , Pooja Jadiya , Dhanendra Tomar","doi":"10.1016/j.cophys.2025.100830","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cophys.2025.100830","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The brain and heart are intricately linked, with dysfunction in one organ often affecting the other. Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), particularly heart failure, impair cerebral blood flow, contributing to cognitive decline and increasing dementia risk. Conversely, Alzheimer’s disease (AD), marked by amyloid-beta plaques and tau tangles, impacts cardiac function. A shared mechanism between AD and CVDs is mitochondrial dysfunction, which disrupts energy production and oxidative balance, worsening both neurodegeneration and heart health. This interdependence underscores the potential for mitochondria-targeted therapies to address both conditions. With an aging population facing rising incidences of AD and CVDs, understanding these interconnected pathways and the central role of mitochondria could inform new therapeutic strategies and improve outcomes in both neurodegenerative and cardiovascular diseases.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":52156,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Physiology","volume":"44 ","pages":"Article 100830"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-05-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143928240","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Gabriela P Diniz, Joanne Chan, John D Mably, Da-Zhi Wang
{"title":"Impact of microRNAs and long noncoding RNAs in skeletal and cardiac muscles","authors":"Gabriela P Diniz, Joanne Chan, John D Mably, Da-Zhi Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.cophys.2025.100829","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cophys.2025.100829","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Recent advances in technology have accelerated our ability to define the functions of noncoding RNA (ncRNA). Beyond their known roles in regulating molecular and cellular processes, new mechanisms and interacting partners for ncRNAs have been revealed. In this review, we focus on recent discoveries of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) and microRNAs (miRNAs) in skeletal and cardiac muscles. In addition to sharing a sarcomeric organization and contractile function, both tissues also utilize similar mechanisms and genetic networks during myogenic differentiation, tissue repair, and regeneration and in disease progression. Thus, knowledge gained about the roles of these ncRNAs in cardiac and skeletal muscles may reveal shared mechanisms and functions relevant to both muscle types as well as to understanding their rules in other tissues. Ultimately, this information could be exploited to develop new diagnostic biomarkers and novel therapies for diseases affecting cardiac and skeletal muscle.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":52156,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Physiology","volume":"44 ","pages":"Article 100829"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-04-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143906169","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Current advances in protein phosphatases in kidney disease","authors":"Marina Rousseau, Pedro Geraldes","doi":"10.1016/j.cophys.2025.100828","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cophys.2025.100828","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Chronic kidney disease (CKD) affects a large portion of the global population and is characterized by alterations in kidney function. Unfortunately, patients who progress to end-stage kidney disease have little chance of kidney function reversal and will ultimately need dialysis or a kidney transplant. Therefore, understanding the underlying mechanisms of CKD progression is critical for developing new therapies. Protein phosphatases are essential regulators of signal transduction in the normal function of cells. The deregulation of different protein phosphatases has been associated with kidney disease onset and progression. This review aims to highlight the recent advances in the role of protein phosphatases in kidney health and disease. Mainly, attention will be brought to three of the four main families of protein phosphatases (serine/threonine, protein tyrosine, and dual-specificity phosphatases). Since kidney disease encompasses a wide range of pathologies, this review will focus on glomerulopathies, diabetic kidney disease, acute kidney injury, and advanced CKD/fibrosis.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":52156,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Physiology","volume":"44 ","pages":"Article 100828"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-04-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143892203","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Achala Theres P Moncy , Samarjit Das , Hannah R Vasanthi
{"title":"Emerging role of exosomal-microRNA in obesity","authors":"Achala Theres P Moncy , Samarjit Das , Hannah R Vasanthi","doi":"10.1016/j.cophys.2025.100827","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cophys.2025.100827","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Exosomes are small extracellular vesicles released by every living cell in the human body and can be found in the circulation of almost every biological fluids. They majorly serve as a communication channel between cells. Exosomal-microRNAs (miRNAs) are gaining wide attention in several pathophysiological conditions, and are considered as early diagnostic and therapeutic targets. Recently, exosomal-miRNAs have been identified as key players during obesity and co-existing risk elements, unraveling their pivotal role in the progression of obesity-induced pathophysiological conditions. In this review, the latest developments in the role of exosomal cargo, specifically miRNAs, in obesity are highlighted. Additionally, we discuss their potential significance as early biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets for diagnosing and managing obesity and related diseases.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":52156,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Physiology","volume":"44 ","pages":"Article 100827"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-04-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143882590","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Mohit Kumar, Arnab Saha, Agasou Alfonso Rameau, Susmita Sil, Shilpa Buch
{"title":"Role of extracellular vesicle–mediated neurodegeneration in substance use disorders","authors":"Mohit Kumar, Arnab Saha, Agasou Alfonso Rameau, Susmita Sil, Shilpa Buch","doi":"10.1016/j.cophys.2025.100826","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cophys.2025.100826","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Substance use disorders (SUDs) remain a complicated and widespread public health problem, characterized by obsessive drug and alcohol use, despite adverse consequences. Emerging research suggests that the extracellular vesicles (EVs) play a critical role in mediating drug addiction and several neurodegenerative processes associated with SUDs. EVs, which include exosomes, microvesicles, and apoptotic bodies, are lipid-bilayered vesicles that facilitate intracellular communication throughout the host by shuttling bioactive molecules, such as proteins, lipids, DNA fragments, and RNA, including both coding and noncoding RNAs across recipient cells. The current review is a comprehensive analysis highlighting the potential role of EVs in the onset and progression of SUD, specifically in the context of cocaine, cannabis, methamphetamine, opiates, alcohol, and tobacco. The goal is to offer valuable insights into the underlying mechanism(s) involving EVs in the pathogenesis of SUD, ultimately paving the way for new therapeutic avenues.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":52156,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Physiology","volume":"44 ","pages":"Article 100826"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-03-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143808563","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Mingliang Pan , Zhixin Li , Xiaohong Wang , Liying Zhan , Guo-Chang Fan
{"title":"Noncoding RNAs in myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury and repair","authors":"Mingliang Pan , Zhixin Li , Xiaohong Wang , Liying Zhan , Guo-Chang Fan","doi":"10.1016/j.cophys.2025.100825","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cophys.2025.100825","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) usually triggers a series of molecular and cellular changes, which yield excessive oxidative stress and massive cardiomyocyte death, leading to sterile inflammation, cardiac fibrosis, and, eventually, heart failure. Over the past two decades, numerous studies have demonstrated that noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs), including microRNAs (miRNAs), long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), and circular RNAs (circRNAs), involve almost every aspect of adverse cardiac remodeling induced by I/R. They have emerged as key regulators in the process of cardiac cell death (i.e<em>.</em> apoptosis, necroptosis, ferroptosis, pyroptosis, and PANoptosis), fibrosis, angiogenesis, and immune responses during myocardial I/R. Herein, this review summarizes recent advancements on ncRNA-mediated regulation of cardiac cell death, cardiac angiogenesis, fibrosis, and macrophage function as well as intercellular communication following myocardial I/R. Finally, the therapeutic potential of ncRNAs for treating myocardial I/R injury and future research directions are also discussed.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":52156,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Physiology","volume":"44 ","pages":"Article 100825"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-03-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143808564","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Dual-specificity phosphatases: an update on their activity regulation and roles in metabolic diseases","authors":"Caroline De Roo, Erin McLean, Ruijie Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.cophys.2025.100816","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cophys.2025.100816","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Reversible protein phosphorylation is catalyzed by both protein kinases and phosphatases, affecting cellular signal transduction in physiological and pathological processes. In contrast to protein kinases, the substrates and <em>in vivo</em> function of approximately 200 phosphatases are less characterized. The big family of protein phosphatases consists of serine/threonine phosphatases, tyrosine phosphatases, and dual-specificity phosphatases (DUSPs), which dephosphorylate both serine/threonine, and tyrosine residues within the target proteins. Over the last two decades, progress in the study of DUSPs allows for not only a better understanding of their activation and signaling termination but also the effect of their abnormal expression in the development of various diseases, such as diabetes, cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. The focus of this minireview is to discuss current understanding of transcriptional and post-translational regulation of DUSPs, as well as their emerging roles in energy metabolism.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":52156,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Physiology","volume":"44 ","pages":"Article 100816"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-03-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143725259","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sayam Ghosal , Bernadett R Bodnár , Brachyahu M Kestecher , Ákos Nagy , Tamás László , Bora Yilmaz , Yixuan Zeng , Adrienn Szabó , Csaba Bödör , Edit I Buzás , Xabier Osteikoetxea
{"title":"Revolutionizing therapeutics: unleashing the power of extracellular vesicles for disease intervention","authors":"Sayam Ghosal , Bernadett R Bodnár , Brachyahu M Kestecher , Ákos Nagy , Tamás László , Bora Yilmaz , Yixuan Zeng , Adrienn Szabó , Csaba Bödör , Edit I Buzás , Xabier Osteikoetxea","doi":"10.1016/j.cophys.2025.100815","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cophys.2025.100815","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Extracellular vesicles (EVs) have emerged as a significant tool in therapeutic applications, exhibiting low immunogenicity and the ability to traverse biological barriers. EV-based treatments show great potential in various diseases, including oncology, neurodegeneration, and cardiovascular conditions. In cancer research, EVs play a role in tumor growth, spread, and resistance to chemotherapy, with modified EVs showing promise in improving drug delivery to challenging cancers such as glioblastoma. For neurodegeneration, EVs aid in protecting neurons and restoring motor function. Likewise, in cardiovascular diseases, EVs participate in tissue repair and heart protection. The effectiveness of EV-based vaccines, exemplified by a clinically approved meningococcal serogroup B MenB-4C vaccine, further underscores the therapeutic value of this approach. This review examines the progress in EV-based therapeutics and their future potential.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":52156,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Physiology","volume":"43 ","pages":"Article 100815"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-01-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143149275","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Sex-specific effects of environmental pollutants on pulmonary immune responses","authors":"Sylvia S Sanchez, Fenna CM Sillé","doi":"10.1016/j.cophys.2025.100813","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cophys.2025.100813","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Environmental pollutants can adversely impact various physiological processes, affecting systems such as the respiratory and immune systems. Immune responses are influenced by various factors, including age, hormonal status, genetic background, and, notably, sex, with effects extending to both innate and adaptive immunity. External factors, like environmental pollutants, can also disrupt innate and/or adaptive immunity and compromise pathogen recognition and memory against future infections. Furthermore, environmental pollutants can play a pivotal role in the development and exacerbation of many chronic respiratory diseases. It is becoming increasingly evident that environmental pollutants elicit sex-specific effects across different species. This review highlights recent findings on the intricate interplay between sex differences and immune-related effects induced by environmental pollutants, with a particular focus on the dysregulation of pulmonary immune responses.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":52156,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Physiology","volume":"43 ","pages":"Article 100813"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-01-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143349036","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}