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Oncology Reports Aug 2024Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) is a type of liver cancer associated with poor prognosis and increased mortality; the limited treatment strategy highlights the...
Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) is a type of liver cancer associated with poor prognosis and increased mortality; the limited treatment strategy highlights the urgent need for investigation. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), used alone or in combination with other treatments, can enhance therapeutic efficacy, improve life quality of patients and extend overall survival. In total, two rounds of screening of a TCM library of 2,538 active compounds were conducted using a Cell Counting Kit‑8 assay and ICC cell lines. Cell proliferation and migration abilities were assessed through colony formation, 5‑ethynyl‑2'‑deoxyuridine, would healing and Transwell assays. The impact of digitoxin (DT) on signaling pathways was initially investigated using RNA sequencing and further validated using reverse transcription‑quantitative PCR, western blotting, lectin blotting and flow cytometry. ICC cells stably overexpressing ST6 β‑galactoside α‑2,6‑sialyltransferase 1 (ST6GAL1) were generated through lentiviral transfection. It was shown that DT emerged as a highly effective anti‑ICC candidate from two rounds high‑throughput library screening. DT could inhibit the proliferation and migration of ICC cells by suppressing NF‑κB activation and reducing nuclear phosphorylated‑NF‑κB levels, along with diminishing ST6GAL1 mRNA and protein expression. The aforementioned biological effects and signal pathways of DT could be counteracted by overexpressing ST6GAL1 in ICC cells. In conclusion, DT suppressed ICC cell proliferation and migration by targeting the NF‑κB/ST6GAL1 signaling axis. The findings of the present study indicated the promising therapeutic effects of DT in managing ICC, offering new avenues for treatment strategies.
Topics: Humans; Signal Transduction; NF-kappa B; Cell Proliferation; Sialyltransferases; Digitoxin; Cholangiocarcinoma; Cell Movement; Cell Line, Tumor; Bile Duct Neoplasms; Antigens, CD; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; beta-D-Galactoside alpha 2-6-Sialyltransferase
PubMed: 38940341
DOI: 10.3892/or.2024.8762 -
Current Eye Research Jun 2024Posterior capsule opacification (PCO) is the major complication of visual impairment after cataract surgery. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are involved in the development of...
PURPOSE
Posterior capsule opacification (PCO) is the major complication of visual impairment after cataract surgery. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are involved in the development of many diseases. The purpose of this study was to explore the role and molecular mechanism of circ_0000099 in PCO.
METHODS
SRA01/04 cells were treated with TGF-β2 to establish a PCO cell model. The expression of circ_0000099, miR-223-3p, and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) mRNA was determined by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Western blot assay was used to analyze the protein expression. Cell proliferation, migration, and invasion were analyzed by (4-5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT), 5-ethynyl-2 '-Deoxyuridine (EdU), transwell, and wound healing tests. The circ_0000099/miR-223-3p/CTGF relationship was verified by dual luciferase reporter gene and RNA binding protein immunoprecipitation (RIP) assays.
RESULTS
TGF-β2 treatment promoted SRA01/04 cell proliferation invasion, migration, and EMT. Circ_0000099 expression was increased in POC patients and TGF-β2-treated SRA01/04 cells.Knockdown of circ_0000099 suppressed TGF-β2-induced proliferation, invasion, migration, and EMT in SRA01/04 cells. miR-223-3p was identified as the target of circ_0000099, and miR-223-3p inhibitor might partly abolish the repression of circ_0000099 silencing on TGF-β2-triggered SRA01/04 cell disorders. MiR-223-3p directly targeted CTGF. Knockdown of CTGF suppressed TGF-β2-induced SRA01/04 cell injury. Circ_0000099 can regulate CTGF expression by targeting miR-223-3p.
CONCLUSIONS
Circ_0000099 silencing might relieve TGF-2-induced SRA01/04 cell injury by the miR-223-3p/CTGF axis, providing new avenues for the prevention and treatment of PCO.
PubMed: 38940233
DOI: 10.1080/02713683.2024.2357600 -
Molecular Carcinogenesis Jun 2024Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are abundant and heterogeneous stromal cells in the tumor microenvironment, which play important roles in regulating tumor...
Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are abundant and heterogeneous stromal cells in the tumor microenvironment, which play important roles in regulating tumor progression and therapy resistance by transferring exosomes to cancer cells. However, how CAFs modulate esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) progression and radioresistance remains incompletely understood. The expression of fibroblast activation protein (FAP) in CAFs was evaluated by immunohistochemistry in 174 ESCC patients who underwent surgery and 78 pretreatment biopsy specimens of ESCC patients who underwent definitive chemoradiotherapy. We sorted CAFs according to FAP expression, and the conditioned medium (CM) was collected to culture ESCC cells. The expression levels of several lncRNAs that were considered to regulate ESCC progression and/or radioresistance were measured in exosomes derived from FAP CAFs and FAP CAFs. Subsequently, cell counting kit-8, 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine, transwell, colony formation, and xenograft assays were performed to investigate the functional differences between FAP CAFs and FAP CAFs. Finally, a series of in vitro and in vivo assays were used to evaluate the effect of AFAP1-AS1 on radiosensitivity of ESCC cells. FAP expression in stromal CAFs was positively correlated with nerve invasion, vascular invasion, depth of invasion, lymph node metastasis, lack of clinical complete response and poor survival. Culture of ESCC cells with CM/FAP CAFs significantly increased cancer proliferation, migration, invasion and radioresistance, compared with culture with CM/FAP CAFs. Importantly, FAP CAFs exert their roles by directly transferring the functional lncRNA AFAP1-AS1 to ESCC cells via exosomes. Functional studies showed that AFAP1-AS1 promoted radioresistance by enhancing DNA damage repair in ESCC cells. Clinically, high levels of plasma AFAP1-AS1 correlated with poor responses to dCRT in ESCC patients. Our findings demonstrated that FAP CAFs promoted radioresistance in ESCC cells through transferring exosomal lncRNA AFAP1-AS1; and may be a potential therapeutic target for ESCC treatment.
PubMed: 38934786
DOI: 10.1002/mc.23782 -
Cytotechnology Aug 2024Pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) functions are associated with the pathogenesis of pulmonary hypertension (PH) which is a life-threatening complication of...
miR-221-3p is upregulated in acute pulmonary embolism complicated with pulmonary hypertension and promotes pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells proliferation and migration by inhibiting PTEN.
Pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) functions are associated with the pathogenesis of pulmonary hypertension (PH) which is a life-threatening complication of acute pulmonary embolism (APE). This study sought to explore the expression pattern of microRNA (miR)-221-3p in APE-PH patients and its role in PASMCs proliferation and migration. The clinical data and venous blood of APE-PH patients were collected. The expression levels of miR-221-3p and phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) in serum were determined, followed by receiver operator characteristic curve analysis of miR-221-3p diagnostic efficacy. PASMCs were transfected with miR-221-3p mimics and PTEN-overexpressed vector, followed by assessment of cell viability, proliferation, and migration through cell counting kit-8, 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine, Transwell, and wound healing assays. The binding between miR-221-3p and PTEN 3'UTR region was testified by the dual-luciferase assay. miR-221 was upregulated in the serum of APE-PH patients and presented with good diagnostic efficacy with 1.155 cutoff value, 66.25% sensitivity, and 67.50% specificity. miR-221 was negatively correlated with PTEN in APE-PH patients. miR-221 overexpression facilitated PASMCs proliferation and migration in vitro. miR-221-3p bound to PTEN 3'UTR region to decrease PTEN protein levels. PTEN overexpression abolished the promotive role of miR-221-3p in PASMCs. Overall, miR-221-3p targeted PTEN to facilitate PASMC proliferation and migration.
PubMed: 38933873
DOI: 10.1007/s10616-024-00628-z -
Frontiers in Veterinary Science 2024Porcine skeletal muscle development is pivotal for improving meat production. , a transcription factor, regulates vital cellular processes, yet its role in skeletal...
BACKGROUND
Porcine skeletal muscle development is pivotal for improving meat production. , a transcription factor, regulates vital cellular processes, yet its role in skeletal muscle proliferation is unclear.
METHODS
The effects of on skeletal muscle cell viability and proliferation were investigated using both mouse and porcine skeletal muscle myoblasts. Selective sweep analysis in Western pigs identified as a potential candidate gene for skeletal muscle development. The correlation between TP63 overexpression and cell proliferation was assessed using quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR) and 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EDU).
RESULTS
The study revealed a positive correlation between overexpression and skeletal muscle cell proliferation. Bioinformatics analysis predicted an interaction between MEF2A, another transcription factor, and the mutation site of . Experimental validation through dual-luciferase assays confirmed that a candidate enhancer SNP could influence MEF2A binding, subsequently regulating expression and promoting skeletal muscle cell proliferation.
CONCLUSION
These findings offer experimental evidence for further exploration of skeletal muscle development mechanisms and the advancement of genetic breeding strategies aimed at improving meat production traits.
PubMed: 38933706
DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1396766 -
Biomolecules Jun 2024De-differentiation and subsequent increased proliferation and inflammation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) is one of the mechanisms of atherogenesis. Maintaining...
De-differentiation and subsequent increased proliferation and inflammation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) is one of the mechanisms of atherogenesis. Maintaining VSMCs in a contractile differentiated state is therefore a promising therapeutic strategy for atherosclerosis. We have reported the 18-base myogenetic oligodeoxynucleotide, iSN04, which serves as an anti-nucleolin aptamer and promotes skeletal and myocardial differentiation. The present study investigated the effect of iSN04 on VSMCs because nucleolin has been reported to contribute to VSMC de-differentiation under pathophysiological conditions. Nucleolin is localized in the nucleoplasm and nucleoli of both rat and human VSMCs. iSN04 without a carrier was spontaneously incorporated into VSMCs, indicating that iSN04 would serve as an anti-nucleolin aptamer. iSN04 treatment decreased the ratio of 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU)-positive proliferating VSMCs and increased the expression of α-smooth muscle actin, a contractile marker of VSMCs. iSN04 also suppressed angiogenesis of mouse aortic rings ex vivo, which is a model of pathological angiogenesis involved in plaque formation, growth, and rupture. These results demonstrate that antagonizing nucleolin with iSN04 preserves VSMC differentiation, providing a nucleic acid drug candidate for the treatment of vascular disease.
Topics: Nucleolin; Animals; RNA-Binding Proteins; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular; Aptamers, Nucleotide; Cell Proliferation; Phosphoproteins; Cell Differentiation; Humans; Rats; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle; Mice; Cells, Cultured; Oligodeoxyribonucleotides; Male; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Mice, Inbred C57BL
PubMed: 38927112
DOI: 10.3390/biom14060709 -
Biomolecules Jun 2024Clickable nucleosides, most often 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EtU), are widely used in studies of DNA replication in living cells and in DNA functionalization for...
Clickable nucleosides, most often 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EtU), are widely used in studies of DNA replication in living cells and in DNA functionalization for bionanotechology applications. Although clickable dNTPs are easily incorporated by DNA polymerases into the growing chain, afterwards they might become targets for DNA repair systems or interfere with faithful nucleotide insertion. Little is known about the possibility and mechanisms of these post-synthetic events. Here, we investigated the repair and (mis)coding properties of EtU and two bulkier clickable pyrimidine nucleosides, 5-(octa-1,7-diyn-1-yl)-U (C8-AlkU) and 5-(octa-1,7-diyn-1-yl)-C (C8-AlkC). In vitro, EtU and C8-AlkU, but not C8-AlkC, were excised by SMUG1 and MBD4, two DNA glycosylases from the base excision repair pathway. However, when placed into a plasmid encoding a fluorescent reporter inactivated by repair in human cells, EtU and C8-AlkU persisted for much longer than uracil or its poorly repairable phosphorothioate-flanked derivative. DNA polymerases from four different structural families preferentially bypassed EtU, C8-AlkU and C8-AlkC in an error-free manner, but a certain degree of misincorporation was also observed, especially evident for DNA polymerase β. Overall, clickable pyrimidine nucleotides could undergo repair and be a source of mutations, but the frequency of such events in the cell is unlikely to be considerable.
Topics: DNA Repair; Humans; Pyrimidine Nucleotides; Click Chemistry; DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase; Deoxyuridine; DNA; DNA Replication; Uracil-DNA Glycosidase
PubMed: 38927084
DOI: 10.3390/biom14060681 -
Clinical & Translational Oncology :... Jun 2024Breast cancer (BC) is the world's largest tumor species in which hormone receptor-positive patients have relatively good prognosis. However, majority of patients will...
BACKGROUND
Breast cancer (BC) is the world's largest tumor species in which hormone receptor-positive patients have relatively good prognosis. However, majority of patients will develop late resistance, one of the important factors is due to the loss of the original estrogen receptor (ER) expression.
METHODS
We conducted this study in 115 patients with BC who experienced second biopsy at Jiangsu Province Hospital (JSPH) and divided patients into two subgroups ER + to - and ER + to + . First, clinicopathological characteristics between two groups were evaluated. Second, we explored candidate genes related to BC ER intratumor heterogeneity by applying next-generation sequencing (NGS) in 42 patients. Multi-omics integrative analysis of tumor transcriptomic, cancer-related pathway, diagnostic and prognostic value and immune profile were conducted. Besides, preliminary assay were also used to evaluate the correlation between KMT2C and ERα (ESR1) expression. The CCK-8, 5-Ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU) assays, Transwell assays and the wound scratch tests were applied to explore the cellular interactions between KMT2C and BC.
RESULTS
We find the histological type (p = 0.008) and disease-free survival (DFS) (p = 0.004) were significantly different in two subgroups. In Cox survival analysis, metastasis (Hazard ratio (HR) > 1, p = 0.007) and neo-adjuvant (HR < 1, p < 0.001) are independent prognostic factors of DFS. Besides, by analyzing NGS results, we found four genes KMT2C, FGFR19, FGF1 and FGF4 were highly mutated genes in ER + to - subgroup. Furthermore, the gene KMT2C displayed significant diagnostic value and prognostic value in BC and pan-cancer. In addition, a positive correlation between KMT2C expression and immune infiltrating levels of T cell CD4 + , macrophage and neutrophil was found. In the end, Western blot and RT-qPCR assay were used and found KMT2C and ERα (ESR1) expressions are strongly positive correlated in mRNA and protein level. Inhibition of KMT2C significantly reduced proliferation, invasion, and migration of MCF7 cells.
CONCLUSION
People in two cohorts from JSPH presented different clinical characteristics and prognosis. The gene KMT2C may affect the progression of BC by regulating the molecular, epigenetic activity and immune infiltration. It may also serve as a novel prognostic biomarker for BC patients who underwent ER status converted from positive to negative.
PubMed: 38926258
DOI: 10.1007/s12094-024-03547-9 -
Discovery Medicine Jun 2024Kinesin family member 26B () has been closely linked to the occurrence and progression of various tumors. However, there is limited research on its role in oral squamous...
BACKGROUND
Kinesin family member 26B () has been closely linked to the occurrence and progression of various tumors. However, there is limited research on its role in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). This article aims to investigate the expression levels and mechanisms of in OSCC.
METHODS
Real time quantity polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and Western blot analyses were conducted to assess the expression levels of in 35 OSCC specimens and their corresponding non-cancerous tissues. Overexpression and silencing of were achieved in HSC6 and SCC25 cells, respectively, resulting in the establishment of -overexpressing and si- cell lines, designated as the group and si- group. Proliferation assays using 5-Ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU) labeling and clone formation were performed to evaluate the proliferative capacity of cells in these groups. The invasive and migratory abilities of cells in the and si- groups were assessed using Transwell assay. Additionally, the influence of on the glycogen synthase kinase (GSK)-3β/β-catenin pathway was investigated through Western blot analysis.
RESULTS
According to the results of RT-qPCR and Western blot analyses, the expression of was predominantly higher in OSCC tissues compared to normal tissues ( < 0.01). Overexpression of notably accelerated cell migration, invasion, and proliferation ( < 0.01), whereas knockdown of significantly inhibited these processes ( < 0.01). Additionally, overexpression led to increased levels of active β-catenin, p-GSK-3, and c-myc ( < 0.01), while silencing decreased the levels of these proteins ( < 0.01).
CONCLUSION
Our findings suggest that may play a role in the pathogenesis and progression of OSCC as an oncogene. This study establishes a foundation for the identification of potential therapeutic targets for OSCC.
Topics: Humans; Kinesins; Mouth Neoplasms; Cell Line, Tumor; Biomarkers, Tumor; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; Cell Proliferation; Female; Male; Middle Aged; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta; Cell Movement; Aged; Wnt Signaling Pathway; beta Catenin
PubMed: 38926114
DOI: 10.24976/Discov.Med.202436185.118 -
Discovery Medicine Jun 2024Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) serve as the crucial accelerating factor in the progression of liver fibrosis (LF). In contrast to HSCs, adult-derived human liver...
BACKGROUND
Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) serve as the crucial accelerating factor in the progression of liver fibrosis (LF). In contrast to HSCs, adult-derived human liver stem/progenitor cells (ADHLSCs) exhibit greater potency in terms of differentiation and proliferation, rendering them highly applicable in LF treatment. The objective of this study is to identify new therapeutic targets for LF by comparing differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between ADHLSCs and HSCs.
METHODS
We investigated DEGs between ADHLSCs and HSCs using the GSE49995 dataset obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, aiming to identify new therapeutic targets for LF. Subsequently, we activated HSCs to delve deeper into the mesenchyme homeobox 2 (MEOX2), PH domain Leucine-rich repeat protein phosphatase (PHLPP), and Phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT) signaling pathways in LF progression, employing platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), and conducted infection with Overexpression (OE)- and shRNA- (sh-) lentiviruses. Cell viability was assessed using the Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, while cell proliferation was evaluated through 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU) staining and flow cytometry. Relative mRNA expression levels were determined via qPCR. Western blot analysis was performed to measure protein expression levels, and the regulatory role of MEOX2 was investigated using dual luciferase reporter assays.
RESULTS
We identified 332 DEGs that were down-regulated and 201 DEGs that were up-regulated between ADHLSCs and HSCs. Notably, expression in ADHLSCs was significantly reduced. These DEGs primarily participated in the collagen-containing extracellular matrix and the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. MEOX2 could inhibit cancer cell proliferation via the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Additionally, the JASRPAR2022 database predicted the target gene of MEOX2. Our results indicated that OE- significantly inhibited HSCs' cell vitality and proliferation. Further analysis revealed that MEOX2 binds to promoters, thereby up-regulating its transcription. This action led to the inhibition of p-AKT expression, consequently reducing HSC proliferation and slowing the progression of LF.
CONCLUSIONS
MEOX2 up-regulates PHLPP expression and inhibits AKT phosphorylation, thereby reducing the cell activity and proliferation ability of HSCs and inhibiting the progression of LF.
Topics: Hepatic Stellate Cells; Humans; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; Signal Transduction; Liver Cirrhosis; Homeodomain Proteins; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; Cell Proliferation
PubMed: 38926106
DOI: 10.24976/Discov.Med.202436185.110