Obesity is considered one of the main risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. The browning process has been recently recognized as a promising anti-obesity therapy. Lycopene (LYC) and Garcinia cambogia fruit extract (GE) might be important resources for anti-obesity drugs; therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the anti-obesity effects of LYC and GE on 3T3-L1 adipocytes and Zucker rats. Mouse 3T3-L1 pre-adipocytes were differentiated in mature adipocytes and then treated with LYC (0.5 μM), GE (30 mg/mL) or LYC + GE for 24 h. Moreover, male Zucker Crl:ZUC-Leprfa rats were randomly assigned to 5 groups of 10 animals to orally receive Vehicle (Ctrl), Orlistat (20 mg/kg), LYC (5 mg/kg), GE (1000 mg/kg) or LYC + GE for 28 days. LYC, GC extracts and even more LYC + GE stimulated the mRNA and protein expression of thermogenic genes UCP1, CIDEA and DIO2, significantly reduced lipid droplet size and increased lipid droplet number in adipocytes. UCP1 mRNA and protein expression was also increased in the visceral adipose tissue of the rats that received the dietary intake of LYC, GE and even more LYC + GE. Moreover, LYC + GE induced the reorganization of visceral fat depots that showed a great number of small adipocytes and a significant reduction in weight gain and food intake compared to the control group. The obtained results demonstrated that LYC + GE might be used as new approaches for obesity management in order to induce the browning process and achieve a metabolically active tissue instead of a tissue characterized by lipid depot accumulation.

This scoping review explores the expression patterns and molecular features of sarcoglycans (SGs) in non-muscle organs, challenging the long-standing assumption that their function is confined to skeletal and cardiac muscle. By analyzing evidence from both animal models and human studies, the review highlights the widespread presence of SG subunits in organs, including the nervous system, glands, adipose tissue, oral mucosa, retina, and other structures, with distinct regional and cell-type-specific patterns. Studies on the central nervous system demonstrate a widespread “spot-like” distribution of SG subunits in neurons and glial cells, implicating their involvement in synaptic organization and neurotransmission. Similarly, SGs maintain cellular integrity and homeostasis in glands and adipose tissue. At the same time, the altered expression of SGs is associated with pathological conditions in the gingival epithelium of the oral mucosa. These findings underscore the multifaceted roles of SGs beyond muscle, suggesting that they may contribute to cellular signaling, membrane stability, and neurovascular coupling. However, significant gaps remain regarding SG post-translational modifications and functional implications in non-muscle organs. Future research integrating molecular, cellular, and functional approaches in animal models and human tissues is essential to fully elucidate these roles and explore their potential as therapeutic targets in various diseases.

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an autoimmune disease marked by fibrosis in various organs, including the heart. Cardiac involvement influences prognosis, but the underpinning mechanisms remain unclear. This study investigates myocardial changes in a murine SSc model induced by subcutaneous injection of HOCl, with a specific focus on alterations in structural proteins and inflammatory markers, oxidative stress, and vascular remodeling. Hearts were collected from SSc mice after 6 weeks, and structural, inflammatory, and oxidative stress markers were evaluated by Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) staining, Masson’s Trichrome, and immunohistochemical analysis. Increased vimentin and α-SMA expression were detected in the vasculature, indicating endothelial dysfunction and myofibroblast activation, alongside a decrease in CD31 expression, consistent with an endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndMT). Concomitant increases in macrophage (CD68, F4/80, EP29, EPR1) and inflammasome markers (Caspase-1, IL-1β and NLPR-3) were observed together with a remarkably augmented level of MMP3, MMP9, Collagen I and TGF-β, thus suggesting that inflammation and matrix remodeling correlate with endothelial dysfunction. Accordingly, the increased levels of NRF2 and HOMX1 suggested a compensatory protective response against oxidative stress. These data suggest that both immune cell- and inflammasome-mediated inflammation signaling play a key role in endothelial dysfunction by altering the balance between fibrosis and vascular remodeling markers.

Background/Objectives: Anterior disc displacement without reduction (ADDwoR) is a temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder characterized by progressive dysfunction and potential complications. Persistent displacement leads to abnormal mechanical stress, predisposing the TMJ disc to structural degeneration, including perforation. This case report aimed to examine the histological and immunofluorescence characteristics of perforated disc tissue to elucidate the mechanisms contributing to its pathology. Methods: A 50-year-old patient with bilateral ADDwoR and disc perforation underwent functional arthroplasty. Tissue samples from the perforated disc were histologically analyzed using hematoxylin–eosin and Azan Mallory staining. Immunofluorescence was performed to assess the expression of collagen type I, fibrillin-1, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs)-3 and -9, and cluster of differentiation 68 (CD68). Results: Histological analysis revealed disorganized collagen fibres and fibro-chondrocyte cell predominance in the perilesional zone, accompanied by vascular proliferation. Adjacent tissue to perforation exhibited normal fibrous organization. Immunofluorescence showed reduced collagen type I and fibrillin-1 patterns in the perilesional area, indicating an alteration in the fibrillar component of the extracellular matrix (ECM). Increased expression of MMP-3 and MMP-9, as well as elevated numbers of CD68-positive macrophages, suggested active ECM degradation and inflammation localized to the perforation site. Conclusions: This case report underscores the critical role of biomechanical stress and inflammation in disc perforation. Decreased ECM integrity, driven by altered collagen and fibrillin composition, as well as heightened MMP activity, compromises the disc’s capacity to absorb and distribute mechanical loads. These findings advance our understanding of TMJ pathophysiology, emphasizing the need for therapeutic approaches that target both biomechanical stabilization and inflammation.

Chondrocytes maintain cartilage integrity through coordinated regulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) synthesis and remodeling. These processes depend on ECM dynamic interactions, mediated by integrin-based focal adhesions and associated cytoskeletal components. While the roles of core adhesion proteins are well described, the involvement of sarcoglycans (SGs) remains unclear in chondrocytes. Drawing parallels from striated muscle, where the SG subcomplex stabilizes the sarcolemma, we hypothesized that SGs similarly integrate into chondrocyte adhesion complexes. This study investigated the SGs (α, β, γ, δ) expression with cytoskeletal and adhesion proteins, including actin and vinculin, in human chondrocytes cultured by immunofluorescence, qPCR, and siRNA-mediated silencing. All four SG isoforms were expressed in the cytoplasmic and membrane domains, with enrichment at focal adhesion sites. Double labeling revealed SG colocalization with F-actin stress fibers and vinculin, indicating integration into the core adhesion complex. Silencing of each SG resulted in disrupted actin stress fibers, diffuse vinculin distribution, reduced focal plaque number, and a change in cell morphology. These findings support the hypothesis that SGs regulate actin cytoskeletal dynamics and focal contact stabilization. Loss of SG function compromises chondrocyte shape and adhesion, highlighting the importance of these glycoproteins also in non-muscle cells.