Amino Acids最新文献

{"title":"Spider peptides from Brachypelma smithi with slightly different amino acids at their C-terminal loops exert different insecticidal activities","authors":"Herlinda Clement,&nbsp;Lilu Corrales-García,&nbsp;Víctor Carpanta,&nbsp;Galilea Jaimes,&nbsp;Pavel Andrei Montero-Domínguez,&nbsp;Elia Diego-García,&nbsp;Gerardo Corzo","doi":"10.1007/s00726-026-03521-5","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00726-026-03521-5","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The insecticidal molecules of spiders persistently evolve to ensure rapid paralysis of their prey, and the best molecules are transmitted to their progeny. Here, we cloned two insecticidal peptides, Bs2 and Bs3, from the venom glands of the theraphosid <i>Brachypelma smithi</i>. Bs2 and Bs3 are 90.2% identical, but they exhibit interesting structural differences at their C-termini, including a connecting disulfide bond (residues Cys15-Cys36 for Bs2 and Cys15-Cys30 for Bs3). The genomic origin of Bs2 and Bs3 may be a cause for gene duplication events. Moreover, Bs2 differs in two residues from Tal1 (95.1% identical), an insecticidal peptide, from the tarantula <i>Tliltocatl albopilosus</i>. Likewise, Bs3 is similar to Asp3a from <i>Aphonopelma sp.</i>, a peptide that targets mammalian Cav (voltage-dependent Ca2 + channel), but it has not been tested in insects. Bs2 and Bs3 were cloned and recombinantly expressed in bacterial cells, and their paralytic effects were tested on three species of insects. The insecticidal peptide rBs2 with the connecting loop Cys15-Cys36 was significantly more insecticidal than that of rBs3 when affecting <i>Galleria mellonella</i> larvae (Lepidoptera). Yet, the insecticidal peptide rBs3 with the connecting loop Cys15-Cys30 was significantly more insecticidal than that of rBs2 when affecting <i>Acheta domesticus</i> nymph crickets (Orthoptera), and <i>Gromphadorhina portentosa</i> cockroaches (Blattodea). rBs2 and rBs3 structural models show a low-structured C-terminal in rBs3, which correlates with a more flexible amino acid sequence of such C-terminal from residues Tyr30 to Leu42. Since insecticidal spider peptides are constantly evolving for prey capture, they are valuable ion channel antagonists for understanding insect cell receptors, and they are also promising leads for insect control.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":7810,"journal":{"name":"Amino Acids","volume":"58 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13451243/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147643732","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The remarkable legacy of the K6/ODC mouse: mechanisms of polyamine-promoted tumorigenesis revealed","authors":"Susan K. Gilmour","doi":"10.1007/s00726-026-03514-4","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00726-026-03514-4","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Using the well-studied two-stage model of skin carcinogenesis, the first transgenic mouse with targeted expression of a polyamine metabolic enzyme was generated 30 years ago. Ornithine decarboxylase (ODC), a key regulating enzyme of polyamine biosynthesis, was constitutively expressed in the outer root sheath cells of hair follicles near the bulge stem cell niche using a keratin 6 promoter in K6/ODC mice. Early studies using K6/ODC mice demonstrated that polyamines play an essential role in the early promotional phase of skin tumorigenesis. Treatment with inhibitors of ODC activity blocked the formation of skin tumors and caused the rapid regression of existing tumors. We review how use of the K6/ODC mouse has shown that elevated polyamines in epithelial cells stimulate proliferation and invasiveness, recruit stem cells, alter chromatin remodeling and cell signaling leading to metabolic reprogramming, increase vascularization, activate underlying fibroblasts, and have powerful effects on immune cell function, all contributing to the development and progression of tumors.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":7810,"journal":{"name":"Amino Acids","volume":"58 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-04-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s00726-026-03514-4.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147589379","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"At the core of global bioenergy: polyamines and transglutaminases in chloroplasts","authors":"Donatella Serafini-Fracassini,&nbsp;Stefano Del Duca","doi":"10.1007/s00726-026-03518-0","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00726-026-03518-0","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Chloroplasts are the energy factories of photosynthetic life. The energy and the plant biomass of the planet depend on the activity of chloroplasts. Their efficiency results from a delicate balance between membrane organization, metabolic regulation and the maintenance of protein homeostasis. Among the molecular factors that support chloroplast structure and function, polyamines (PAs) and transglutaminases (TGases) have emerged as key regulators of photosynthetic performance and stress tolerance. PAs stabilize thylakoid membranes, influence proton-motive force partitioning, modulate chlorophyll biosynthesis and protect the photosynthetic apparatus from oxidative damage, thereby contributing to increased photoprotection and delayed senescence. TGases, particularly the plastid-localized isoforms, catalyze the covalent conjugation of PAs to stromal and thylakoid proteins, including RuBisCo and light-harvesting complexes (LHC). These reactions affect protein stability, supramolecular assembly, and the dynamic remodeling of LHC. Light-, pH- and redox-dependent activation of TGases links PA dependent protein modification to the regulation of photosynthetic efficiency and stress responses. This review integrates biochemical, structural and physiological evidence to highlight how PAs and TGases operate at the interface of light-to-chemical energy conversion. Both are involved in membrane organisation and maintaining protein quality. Understanding this molecular network provides new perspectives for improving plant performance, enhancing tolerance to abiotic stress and sustaining biomass production, notably that of agriculture interest, under changing environmental conditions.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":7810,"journal":{"name":"Amino Acids","volume":"58 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-03-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s00726-026-03518-0.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147509047","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The role of N-acetylcysteine and glutathione in the management of Parkinson’s disease: a systematic review of oxidative biomarkers and clinical outcomes","authors":"Imran Mohammed,&nbsp;Yasimin Nankya,&nbsp;U. Teng Hong,&nbsp;Amy Kan,&nbsp;Alya Masoud Abdelhafid,&nbsp;Gladys O. Latunde-Dada","doi":"10.1007/s00726-026-03513-5","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00726-026-03513-5","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterised by the loss of dopaminergic neurons, leading to both motor and non-motor symptoms. Oxidative stress is a significant contributor to the pathophysiology of PD, and glutathione (GSH) depletion contributes to neuronal damage. N-acetylcysteine (NAC), a bioavailable cysteine donor, can support endogenous GSH synthesis and may also exert antioxidant effects independent of GSH replenishment. NAC and GSH are proposed neuroprotective interventions due to their antioxidant properties. This systematic review evaluated the effects of NAC and GSH on oxidative stress and PD symptoms, comparing them with healthy controls or a placebo. A systematic search was conducted in Cochrane Library, PubMed, Web of Science, Ovid (Embase and MEDLINE), Scopus, and ProQuest for studies published between January 2003 and December 2024, including randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and non-randomised studies. Two reviewers assessed the study quality and extracted data. The primary outcome was the change in motor and non-motor symptoms as measured by the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) and were interpreted using minimal clinically important difference (MCID) thresholds. Secondary outcomes included biochemical redox markers such as blood GSH, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) GSH, GSSG, and GSH/GSSG ratio and imaging-based functional outcomes, particularly DAT binding assessed by DaTscan SPECT. The GSH/GSSG ratio reflects redox status (reduced vs. oxidised glutathione), CSF outcomes primarily reported NAC concentrations, and brain GSH was quantified using magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). Exclusion criteria included studies on conditions other than PD, those that did not use NAC or GSH as the primary intervention, and those without a comparator group. Nine studies, conducted between 2009 and 2019, met the inclusion criteria and involved 196 participants. NAC improved both motor and non-motor symptoms and significantly increased GSH/GSSG ratios, GSH levels in the CSF, and DAT binding. In contrast, intranasal GSH showed only modest increases in brain levels without significant improvements in symptoms or oxidative stress markers. The studies had limitations, including small sample sizes, short intervention durations, and inconsistencies in dosage and administration routes. These factors constrain the strength of the conclusions, and evidence for both NAC and GSH remains preliminary. Furthermore, while NAC shows promise as a neuroprotective intervention, findings for GSH are inconclusive. More large-scale, long-term randomised controlled trials are needed to validate these results and explore NAC and GSH’s long-term therapeutic potential in managing PD.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":7810,"journal":{"name":"Amino Acids","volume":"58 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s00726-026-03513-5.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147508997","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Adaptive crosstalk between polyamine metabolism, translation, and autophagy sustains energy homeostasis in mammals during starvation: a scoping review","authors":"Kayhan Karimi,&nbsp;Sigrid C. Roberts,&nbsp;Nicola S. Carter,&nbsp;Sebastian J. Hofer,&nbsp;Reza Karimi","doi":"10.1007/s00726-026-03512-6","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00726-026-03512-6","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Mammalian cells tightly regulate the shift between catabolism and anabolism to maintain energy homeostasis during starvation. Among other adaptations, cells adapt to nutrient restriction by downregulating translation, the most energy consuming cellular process, and inducing autophagy. Polyamines are ubiquitous small polycationic endogenous metabolites indispensable for cellular growth and viability. They regulate both autophagy and translation processes, coordinating an intriguing metabolic hub during cellular adaptation to starvation. Recent studies have highlighted a complex role for polyamines during starvation and a growing body of evidence underscores various nutrients and nutrient-sensing pathways that modulate autophagy through their influence on the mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) signaling. mTORC1 is a master regulator of cellular anabolism, including translation. Less explored is how these coordinated systems adapt and respond to starvation. This scoping review explores how changes in polyamine metabolism and related molecules orchestrate the adaptive crosstalk between autophagy, mTORC1, and translation to ensure that the mammalian cell conserves energy to maintain essential cellular functions during starvation. Our review highlights that spermidine and one of its major cellular targets, translation initiation factor 5A (eIF5A), facilitate translation of transcription factor EB (TFEB) to induce autophagy during starvation. Starvation suppresses mTORC1 activity, leading to reduced ribosome biogenesis and translation while promoting autophagy to meet cellular energy demands. We discuss the adaptive mechanisms by which reduced levels of acetyl-CoA, amino acids, EP300, glucose, insulin, and S-adenosylmethionine inhibit mTORC1 and simultaneously induce autophagy. Additionally, we describe the adaptive role that glucagon, Sestrin2, and urea play to inhibit mTORC1 and how eIF5A, glucagon, spermidine, and TFEB induce autophagy.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":7810,"journal":{"name":"Amino Acids","volume":"58 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s00726-026-03512-6.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147508941","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Taurine supplementation and systemic lupus erythematosus in preclinical studies: a systematic review of clinical outcomes and underlying mechanisms","authors":"Aida Malek Mahdavi,&nbsp;Zeinab Javadivala,&nbsp;Niloufar Orooji","doi":"10.1007/s00726-026-03516-2","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00726-026-03516-2","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Taurine (Tau) is a sulfur-containing amino acid that has therapeutic roles in several diseases, including inflammatory conditions. The involvement of Tau in modulating systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) autoimmunity has been indicated in preclinical models, but reports are contradictory. This systematic review aimed to summarize current research regarding the potential role of Tau in SLE, to notice knowledge gaps, and to offer suggestions for the way ahead. The literature search was carried out using PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar databases until October 2025. Search alert services were also applied to notice related papers published after the primary search. All studies investigating the effects of Tau in SLE that met the inclusion criteria were eligible. Out of 77 articles initially found, only six preclinical studies (animal and in-vitro) were eligible, and no qualified clinical study was identified. Five studies indicated that Tau was helpful in improving clinical parameters, decreasing T helper 1 (Th1) and Th17 cells and inflammatory mediators (e.g., tumor necrosis factor-α, C-reactive protein, and inducible nitric oxide synthase), removing reactive oxygen species and decreasing oxidative markers like malondialdehyde, increasing regulatory T (Treg) and Th2 cells and anti-inflammatory interleukin-4 and interleukin-10 cytokines, increasing antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase, and inhibiting both FAS- and mitochondrial-dependent apoptotic signaling components. However, only one preclinical study reported that Tau aggravated SLE progression characterized by increased generation of type I interferons, enhanced autoantibodies and proteinuria, further lymphocyte activation, and critical nephritis. The current review provides evidence about the role of Tau in SLE and highlights the importance of further well-designed clinical trials to confirm these results, establish optimal dose and assess safety and long-term efficacy.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":7810,"journal":{"name":"Amino Acids","volume":"58 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s00726-026-03516-2.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147509019","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Dysregulation of SIRT1, polyamines and miRNA editing in cancer and aging","authors":"Miora Bruna Marielle Ramamonjiharisoa,&nbsp;Sen Liu","doi":"10.1007/s00726-026-03515-3","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00726-026-03515-3","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Interest in RNA editing has emerged in molecular medicine due to its widespread dysregulation and therapeutic potential. Its regulatory mechanisms in governing non-coding RNAs, especially microRNAs (miRNAs) remain largely unresolved. Emerging evidence in diseases reveals a functional convergence between miRNAs and polyamine metabolism, two systems traditionally studied separately. miRNAs serve as primary substrates for adenosine deaminase acting on RNA (ADAR) which could regulate polyamine metabolism via the sirtuin (SIRT1)-p53 axis, forming a disease-relevant loop. Indeed, in many proliferative malignancies, hyper-editing of miRNAs coincides with high polyamine levels and promotes SIRT1-mediated p53 deacetylation. Conversely, in many age-related diseases, hypo-editing and polyamine loss blunt this pathway. This review dissects this emerging ADAR-editing-miRNA-polyamine circuit anchored on the SIRT1-p53 axis. We propose this as a unifying working model to integrate disparate correlative observations, providing a roadmap for future validation studies to confirm its potential for combinatorial therapeutic targets and diagnostic biomarkers.</p><h3>Graphical abstract</h3><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div><div><p>The scheme merges correlative data: cancers display high ADAR activity, hyper-edited miRNAs and elevated polyamines, whereas aging shows the opposite trend. Whether these edited miRNAs causally shape polyamine levels via the SIRT1-p53 axis remains experimentally untested. The diagram therefore depicts a working model linking ADAR editing, SIRT1-p53 signaling and polyamine regulators of biosynthesis/autophagy. The solid red arrows trace the primary regulatory axis synthesized from the reviewed evidence (from ADAR to p53, to polyamine), while the dashed green arrows indicate a potential feedback loop from polyamines back to the editing machinery that is currently supported by more limited data</p></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":7810,"journal":{"name":"Amino Acids","volume":"58 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13013224/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147493583","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Arginine improves growth and health status of post-larval Litopenaeus vannamei by modulating amino acid metabolism and enhancing antioxidative defense","authors":"Xianjie Chen,&nbsp;Hongjie Xie,&nbsp;Yifei Pan,&nbsp;Kangyuan Qu,&nbsp;Yucheng Liu,&nbsp;Jiahao Song,&nbsp;Beiping Tan,&nbsp;Qihui Yang,&nbsp;Shiwei Xie","doi":"10.1007/s00726-026-03510-8","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00726-026-03510-8","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>This study investigated the dietary arginine requirement for post-larval <i>Litopenaeus vannamei</i> based on growth performance and hepatopancreatic health indicators. A 25-day feeding trial was conducted. Five iso-nitrogenous and iso-lipidic diets contained graded arginine levels (2.12–2.85%, A0–A4). Increasing dietary arginine significantly promoted growth performance without affecting whole‑body composition, while the highest survival rate occurred in shrimp fed the 2.85% diet. Antioxidant responses were endpoint-dependent: SOD and GPX reached their highest activities at A2–A3 (with A2 showing marked activation), whereas T-AOC and CAT continued to increase and MDA decreased at higher arginine levels. Quadratic regression of SOD activity estimated an optimum at approximately 2.51%. Expression of arginine metabolism genes <i>(agm</i><i>, </i><i>nos</i>) and antioxidant genes (<i>gpx, sod</i>) was significantly upregulated in A2, whereas protein synthesis‑related genes were strongly activated in A4. Metabolomic profiling identified 141 differential metabolites, with L‑hydroxyarginine and DL‑proline upregulated and creatine downregulated in A4. In parallel, γ‑aminobutyric acid (GABA) and S‑adenosylmethionine (SAM) contents increased, indicating modulation of neurotransmission and methylation. Enrichment analysis showed significant effects on arginine and proline metabolism, glycerophospholipid metabolism, and GABAergic pathways. Correlation and network analyses suggested that elevated arginine improves growth and antioxidative capacity by reinforcing amino acid, phospholipid, and energy metabolism and supporting neuromodulation. In conclusion, integrating regression-estimated optima for antioxidant-related indices with growth and survival outcomes within the tested range suggests that the recommended dietary arginine requirement for post-larval <i>Litopenaeus vannamei</i> is approximately 2.51–2.85%, which promotes growth and survival, supports hepatopancreatic health, enhances antioxidant capacity, and modulates amino acid and lipid metabolism.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":7810,"journal":{"name":"Amino Acids","volume":"58 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13013242/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147455037","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Association between plasma concentrations of galectin 3, growth differentiation factor 15, soluble suppression of tumourigenicity 2, and cystatin C and clinical parameters and survival in patients with end-stage renal disease undergoing haemodialysis","authors":"Michał Ptak,&nbsp;Aleksandra Cader-Ptak,&nbsp;Zuzanna Marcinowska,&nbsp;Violetta Dziedziejko,&nbsp;Krzysztof Safranow,&nbsp;Ewa Kwiatkowska,&nbsp;Kazimierz Ciechanowski,&nbsp;Andrzej Pawlik,&nbsp;Leszek Domański","doi":"10.1007/s00726-026-03509-1","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00726-026-03509-1","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The treatment of chronic kidney disease is based mainly on haemodialysis. During this procedure, cardiovascular haemodynamic parameters change, which can lead to complications in the circulatory system and shorten patient survival. Currently, new biomarkers are being sought that could predict survival in haemodialysis patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether Gal-3, GDF-15, sST2, and CysC could be useful biomarkers in patients with end-stage renal failure undergoing haemodialysis in predicting the patient survival. This study included 76 patients with end-stage kidney disease treated with haemodialysis. We assessed the variability in the plasma concentrations of these proteins; evaluated correlations between Gal-3, GDF-15, and sST2 concentrations and selected haemodialysis parameters; and determined the relationship between the risk of death and Gal-3, GDF-15, sST2, and CysC concentrations. There was a decrease in the Gal-3 plasma concentrations and an increase in the GDF-15 and sST2 plasma concentrations during haemodialysis. Among the studied proteins, only the sST2 concentrations differed significantly between the patients who survived and died. The logarithm of the sST2 concentrations, both before and after haemodialysis, was an independent mortality risk factor in univariate analysis (respectively: hazard ratio [HR] 3.179, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.492–6.777, p = 0.0027, and HR 3.011, 95% CI 1.447–6.264, p = 0.0032) and multivariate analysis, which also included age, male gender, and body mass index (respectively: HR 2.776, 95% CI 1.306–5.903, p = 0.0080, and HR 2.496, 95% CI 1.224–5.090, p = 0.012). These results suggest the use of sST2 in clinical practice to identify patients at higher risk of death.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":7810,"journal":{"name":"Amino Acids","volume":"58 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13002679/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147455009","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Plasma branched-chain amino acids in chronic kidney disease: associations with atherogenic lipids and mortality","authors":"Mohamed E. Suliman,&nbsp;Abdul Rashid Qureshi,&nbsp;Dario Troise,&nbsp;Qianying Zhang,&nbsp;Peter Bárány,&nbsp;Olof Heimbürger,&nbsp;Peter Stenvinkel,&nbsp;Bengt Lindholm","doi":"10.1007/s00726-026-03511-7","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00726-026-03511-7","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) are essential nutrients that promote muscle protein anabolism but also associate with cardiometabolic diseases; however, their role in chronic kidney disease (CKD) remains unclear. We investigated plasma BCAA levels and their associations with metabolic parameters and survival in CKD patients. Plasma BCAA levels, along with clinical and laboratory parameters, were measured in 328 patients with CKD stage 5 (median age 54 years, 60% males). BCAA concentrations in 83 community-dwelling controls (median age 51 years, 66% males) served as comparators. Multivariate linear regression analysis was employed to identify predictors of BCAA levels. Competing risk regression analysis was conducted to assess 5-year risk of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in relation to total and individual BCAAs (valine, isoleucine, and leucine). Plasma BCAA levels were lower compared to controls (<i>P</i> &lt; 0.0001) and positively associated with triglycerides and the atherogenic index of plasma, while inversely associated with high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), Apo-A, and Lp (a). After adjustments for confounders, low vs. high tertile of total BCAAs associated with increased risk of cardiovascular mortality (sub-hazard ratio [sHR] 2.37, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.08–5.21) and low tertile of valine associated with higher risk of both all-cause mortality (sHR 2.05, 95% CI 1.10–3.79) and cardiovascular mortality (sHR 2.46, 95% CI 1.15–5.26). In CKD, higher levels of BCAAs associated with an atherogenic lipid profile while lower BCAAs levels associated with increased cardiovascular mortality risk, and low valine was associated with higher both all-cause and cardiovascular mortality risk. Monitoring and potentially modulating BCAA levels could have prognostic or therapeutic implications in advanced CKD.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":7810,"journal":{"name":"Amino Acids","volume":"58 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s00726-026-03511-7.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147375639","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}