Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) modulate a variety of cancerous biological processes, including the promotion of tumorigenicity in tumor parenchymal cells. However, there is a lack of studies assessing Show more
Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) modulate a variety of cancerous biological processes, including the promotion of tumorigenicity in tumor parenchymal cells. However, there is a lack of studies assessing the regulation of lncRNAs in cancer-associated fibroblasts. In the present study, a novel lncRNA, TIRY, was found to act as a miRNA sponge and to downregulate miR-14 expression in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Fluorescence This study demonstrated the novel lncRNA, TIRY, enhances epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in cancer-associated fibroblasts and promotes the metastasis of tumor via miR-14 sponging in oral squamous cell carcinoma, and thus provide a novel molecular mechanism underlying the role of TIRY in CAFs in tumor biology and a potential target in OSCC. Further, the data showed that TIRY expression was negatively correlated with miR-14 transcription levels and was associated with poor prognosis in OSCC specimens. Therefore, TIRY may be a potential prognostic biomarker of overall survival and progression-free survival in OSCC. Moreover, TIRY adds to the understanding of regulatory mechanisms involved in CAFs and epithelial cancer cells in OSCC and may provide novel insights for further understanding tumor biology. Show less
IL-27 is an anti-inflammatory cytokine that has been shown to have potent anti-tumor activity. We recently reported that systemic delivery of IL-27 using recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) indu Show more
IL-27 is an anti-inflammatory cytokine that has been shown to have potent anti-tumor activity. We recently reported that systemic delivery of IL-27 using recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) induced depletion of Tregs and significantly enhanced the efficacy of cancer immunotherapy in a variety of mouse tumor models. A potential caveat of systemic delivery of IL-27 using rAAV is that there is no practical method to terminate IL-27 production when its biological activity is no longer needed. Therefore, in this work, we tested if directly injecting AAV-IL-27 into tumors could lead to similar anti-tumor effect yet avoiding uncontrolled IL-27 production. We found that high levels of IL-27 was produced in tumors and released to peripheral blood after AAV-IL-27 intra-tumoral injection. AAV-IL-27 local therapy showed potent anti-tumor activity in mice bearing plasmacytoma J558 tumors and modest anti-tumor activity in mice bearing B16.F10 tumors. Intra-tumoral injection of AAV-IL-27 induced infiltration of immune effectors including CD8 Show less
Cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) facilitates the net transfer of cholesteryl esters (CEs) and TGs between lipoproteins, impacting the metabolic fate of these lipoproteins. Previous studies ha Show more
Cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) facilitates the net transfer of cholesteryl esters (CEs) and TGs between lipoproteins, impacting the metabolic fate of these lipoproteins. Previous studies have shown that a CETP antibody can alter CETP's preference for CE versus TG as transfer substrate, suggesting that CETP substrate preference can be manipulated in vivo. Hamster and human CETPs have very different preferences for CE and TG. To assess the effect of altering CETP's substrate preference on lipoproteins in vivo, here, we expressed human CETP in hamsters. Chow-fed hamsters received adenoviruses expressing no CETP, hamster CETP, or human CETP. Plasma CETP mass increased 2-fold in both the hamster and human CETP groups. Although the animals expressing human CETP still had low levels of hamster CETP, the CE versus TG preference of their plasma CETP was similar to that of the human ortholog. Hamster CETP overexpression had little impact on lipoproteins. However, expression of human CETP reduced HDL up to 50% and increased VLDL cholesterol 2.5-fold. LDL contained 20% more CE, whereas HDL CE was reduced 40%, and TG increased 6-fold. The HDL3:HDL2 ratio increased from 0.32 to 0.60. Hepatic expression of three cholesterol-related genes ( Show less
Pathological neovascularization and fibrosis are common pathological changes of many retinal diseases, such as proliferative retinopathy (PR) and age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Treatment moda Show more
Pathological neovascularization and fibrosis are common pathological changes of many retinal diseases, such as proliferative retinopathy (PR) and age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Treatment modalities for these pathological changes are limited. The purpose of the present study was to test the effects of palmitoylethanolamide (PEA), an endocannabinoid mimetic amide, on retinal neovascularization and fibrosis and to determine its molecular mechanism of action. A rat Müller cell line (rMC-1), a mouse model of oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR), and the very-low-density lipoprotein receptor (VLDLR) knockout mouse model were used. PEA was intraperitoneally injected or orally administrated in animal models. Inflammation and profibrotic changes were evaluated by western blot analysis. Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARα) were measured by RT-PCR and western blot analysis. Profibrotic changes were present in OIR and Vldlr-/- retinas. PEA significantly alleviated inflammation and inhibited neovascularization in OIR and Vldlr-/- retinas and suppressed profibrotic changes in OIR and Vldlr-/- retinas. Moreover, PEA potently suppressed Müller gliosis in these retinas. In rMC-1 cells, PEA suppressed Müller gliosis, reduced inflammatory cytokines, and attenuated profibrotic changes. Further, both mRNA and protein levels of PPARα were elevated in the retina under PEA treatment, and the effects of PEA were abolished in Pparα-/- OIR mice. PEA reduced retinal neovascularization and fibrotic changes and suppressed Müller gliosis in experimental PR and neovascular AMD by activating PPARα. PEA may be a potential treatment for retinopathies with pathological neovascularization and fibrosis. Show less
Interleukin-27 (IL-27), which belongs to IL-12 family, influences the function of T cells (Tregs) through regulating the expression, and function of forkhead box P3 (FoxP3). In this study, we detected Show more
Interleukin-27 (IL-27), which belongs to IL-12 family, influences the function of T cells (Tregs) through regulating the expression, and function of forkhead box P3 (FoxP3). In this study, we detected the IL-27 serum levels in 59 myasthenia gravis (MG) patients and 35 healthy controls (HCs). Among them, 32 MG patients received immunoglobulin intravenous (IVIG) injections (0.4 g/kg per day for 5 consecutive days). IL-27 levels were collected before and after the treatments and subjected to a comparative study. Finally, we assessed the correlations of IL-27 levels with the clinical characteristics of MG. As a result, serum IL-27 levels were significantly higher in MG patients than those in the HCs. Meanwhile, significant reduction was detected after the IVIG treatment. IL-27 levels positively correlated with both MG activities of daily living and quantitative MG score. IL-27 may participate in the pathogenesis of MG and can be used as an early marker for the diagnosis and prognosis of MG. In addition, IL-27 can be used as a target for MG treatment through the regulation of specific immune signaling and maintaining immune homeostasis. Show less
The discovery of effective therapeutic options for treating metastatic poorly differentiated neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC) after prior platinum-based chemotherapy remains elusive. This study analyzed Show more
The discovery of effective therapeutic options for treating metastatic poorly differentiated neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC) after prior platinum-based chemotherapy remains elusive. This study analyzed the efficacy of TLC388 (Lipotecan) Hydrochloride, a novel camptothecin analog, for pretreated patients with metastatic NEC. This single-arm, two-stage, phase II clinical trial was conducted at four community and academic centers in Taiwan. Patients aged 20 years or older with confirmed metastatic NEC and who had received prior systemic therapy with etoposide plus cisplatin were enrolled between July 2015 and May 2018. Patients received 40 mg/m Twenty-three patients with a median age of 61 (range, 44-73) years, 18 of whom were men (78%), were enrolled. Patients received a median of 2 (range, 0-6) treatment cycles. Among 20 evaluable patients, 3 patients exhibited stable disease and no patient experienced a complete or partial remission, resulting in a disease control rate of 15%. Median progression-free survival was 1.8 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.4-15) months, and the median overall survival was 4.3 (95% CI, 1.7-15) months. The most common treatment-related hematologic adverse events at grade 3 or higher were leukopenia (22.7%), anemia (31.8%), and thrombocytopenia (18.2%). The most frequent mutated genes in 35 patients with NEC were ARSA, DPYD, HEXB, BRCA1, HPD, MYBPC3, BBS2, IL7R, HSD17B4, and PRODH. TLC388 demonstrates limited antitumor activity in metastatic NEC. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02457273. Poorly differentiated neuroendocrine carcinomas (NECs) are rare and aggressive. Currently, effective therapeutic options for treating metastatic poorly differentiated NECs beyond platinum-based chemotherapy remain elusive. In this single-arm, multicenter, phase II study, 23 patients with NEC were enrolled and received TLC388 (Lipotecan) Hydrochloride, which is a novel camptothecin analog. The results demonstrated the disease control rate of 15%, the median progression-free survival of 1.8 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.4-15) months, and the median overall survival of 4.3 (95% CI, 1.7-15) months. Most importantly, several novel genetic mutations and pathways were identified. These results offer the opportunity to develop future treatment strategies in this rare cancer. Show less
To investigate the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and molecular interaction in unstable atherosclerotic carotid plaques. Gene expression datasets GSE41571, GSE118481, and E-MTAB-2055 were analy Show more
To investigate the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and molecular interaction in unstable atherosclerotic carotid plaques. Gene expression datasets GSE41571, GSE118481, and E-MTAB-2055 were analyzed. Co-regulated DEGs in at least two datasets were analyzed with the enrichment of Gene Ontology Biological Process (GO-BP), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks, interrelationships between miRNAs/transcriptional factors, and their target genes and drug-gene interactions. The expression of notable DEGs in human carotid artery plaques and plasma was further identified. The GO-BP enrichment analysis revealed that genes associated with inflammatory response, and extracellular matrix organization were altered. The KEGG enrichment analysis revealed that upregulated DEGs were enriched in the tuberculous, lysosomal, and chemokine signaling pathways, whereas downregulated genes were enriched in the focal adhesion and PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. Collagen type I alpha 2 chain (COL1A2), adenylate cyclase 3 (ADCY3), C-X-C motif chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4), and TYRO protein tyrosine kinase binding protein (TYROBP) might play crucial roles in the PPI networks. In drug-gene interactions, colonystimulating factor-1 receptor had the most drug interactions. Insulin-like growth factor binding protein 6 (IGFBP6) was markedly downregulated in unstable human carotid plaques and plasma. Under a receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, plasma IGFBP6 had a significant discriminatory power (AUC, 0.894; 95% CI, 0.810-0.977), with a cutoff value of 142.08 ng/mL. The genes COL1A2, ADCY3, CXCR4, and TYROBP are promising targets for the prevention of unstable carotid plaque formation. IGFBP6 may be an important biomarker for predicting vulnerable plaques. Show less
Proper development of taste organs including the tongue and taste papillae requires interactions with the underlying mesenchyme through multiple molecular signaling pathways. The effects of bone morph Show more
Proper development of taste organs including the tongue and taste papillae requires interactions with the underlying mesenchyme through multiple molecular signaling pathways. The effects of bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) and antagonists are profound, however, the tissue-specific roles of distinct receptors are largely unknown. Here, we report that constitutive activation (ca) of ALK2-BMP signaling in the tongue mesenchyme (marked by Wnt1-Cre) caused microglossia-a dramatically smaller and misshapen tongue with a progressively severe reduction in size along the anteroposterior axis and absence of a pharyngeal region. At E10.5, the tongue primordia (branchial arches 1-4) formed in Wnt1-Cre/caAlk2 mutants while each branchial arch responded to elevated BMP signaling distinctly in gene expression of BMP targets (Id1, Snai1, Snai2, and Runx2), proliferation (Cyclin-D1) and apoptosis (p53). Moreover, elevated ALK2-BMP signaling in the mesenchyme resulted in apparent defects of lingual epithelium, muscles, and nerves. In Wnt1-Cre/caAlk2 mutants, a circumvallate papilla was missing and further development of formed fungiform papillae was arrested in late embryos. Our data collectively demonstrate that ALK2-BMP signaling in the mesenchyme plays essential roles in orchestrating various tissues for proper development of the tongue and its appendages in a region-specific manner. Show less
Excessive compensatory nephron hypertrophy (CNH) has been implicated in setting the stage for progressive nephron damage. Lack of a class III phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (Pik3c3) inhibitor suitable Show more
Excessive compensatory nephron hypertrophy (CNH) has been implicated in setting the stage for progressive nephron damage. Lack of a class III phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (Pik3c3) inhibitor suitable for using in animals and lack of a Pik3c3-deficient animal model preclude the possibility of conclusively defining a role for Pik3c3 in CNH in previous studies. Here, we report that insertion of an Show less
E3 ubiquitin ligase gene, WWP2, is associated with acute kidney injury (AKI). This research was conducted to explore the role of WWP2 in AKI. AKI cell model was produced in human renal proximal tubula Show more
E3 ubiquitin ligase gene, WWP2, is associated with acute kidney injury (AKI). This research was conducted to explore the role of WWP2 in AKI. AKI cell model was produced in human renal proximal tubular epithelial cell line (HK-2) by ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury. CCK8 and flow cytometry assay were performed to explore the influence of WWP2 overexpression on cell proliferation and apoptosis of IR-induced HK-2 cells. Quantitative real-time PCR and immunoblotting (IB) were performed to assess the gene and protein expression. Then, the influence of WWP2 on p53 ubiquitylation and degradation was estimated by immunoprecipitation assay. Our data indicated that WWP2 was down-regulated and p53 was up-regulated in IR-induced HK-2 cells. WWP2 overexpression promoted proliferation and inhibited apoptosis of IR-induced HK-2 cells. And WWP2 interacted with p53 and regulated p53 ubiquitylation and degradation. Furthermore, the influence of WWP2 on cell proliferation and apoptosis was rescued by MG132 (proteasome inhibitor) treatment. In conclusion, our work described for the first time the role of WWP2 in AKI, showing that WWP2 ameliorated AKI by mediating p53 ubiquitylation and degradation. Moreover, the study offers some important insights into the occurrence of AKI and WWP2 may be a novel target of AKI treatment. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY: Our data elaborates that WWP2 has protective effect against AKI by mediating p53 ubiquitylation and degradation. Thus, WWP2 might be a therapeutic target for AKI. Show less
Overexpression of eukaryotic translation initiation factor 3H (EIF3H) predicts cancer progression and poor prognosis, but the mechanism underlying EIF3H as an oncogene remains unclear in esophageal sq Show more
Overexpression of eukaryotic translation initiation factor 3H (EIF3H) predicts cancer progression and poor prognosis, but the mechanism underlying EIF3H as an oncogene remains unclear in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). TCGA database and the immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining of ESCC samples were used and determined the upregulation of EIF3H in ESCC. CCK8 assay, colony formation assay and transwell assay were performed to examine the ability of cell proliferation and mobility in KYSE150 and KYSE510 cell lines with EIF3H overexpression or knockdown. Xenograft and tail-vein lung metastatic mouse models of KYSE150 cells with or without EIF3H knockdown were also used to confirm the function of EIF3H on tumor growth and metastasis in vivo. A potential substrate of EIF3H was screened by co-immunoprecipitation assay (co-IP) combined with mass spectrometry in HEK293T cells. Their interaction and co-localization were confirmed using reciprocal co-IP and immunofluorescence staining assay. The function of EIF3H on Snail ubiquitination and stability was demonstrated by the cycloheximide (CHX) pulse-chase assay and ubiquitination assay. The correlation of EIF3H and Snail in clinical ESCC samples was verified by IHC. We found that EIF3H is significantly upregulated in esophageal cancer and ectopic expression of EIF3H in ESCC cell lines promotes cell proliferation, colony formation, migration and invasion. Conversely, genetic inhibition of EIF3H represses ESCC tumor growth and metastasis in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, we identified EIF3H as a novel deubiquitinating enzyme of Snail. We demonstrated that EIF3H interacts with and stabilizes Snail through deubiquitination. Therefore, EIF3H could promote Snail-mediated EMT process in ESCC. In clinical ESCC samples, there is also a positive correlation between EIF3H and Snail expression. Our study reveals a critical EIF3H-Snail signaling axis in tumor aggressiveness in ESCC and provides EIF3H as a promising biomarker for ESCC treatment. Show less
The existence of cancer stem cells (CSCs) accounts for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treatment resistance, relapse, and metastasis. Although the elimination of cancer stem cells is crucial for cancer Show more
The existence of cancer stem cells (CSCs) accounts for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treatment resistance, relapse, and metastasis. Although the elimination of cancer stem cells is crucial for cancer treatment, strategies for their elimination are limited. Here, we report that a remarkable increase in PIK3C3 was detected in HCC tissues and liver CSCs. Upregulated PIK3C3 facilitated liver CSC expansion in HCC cells; RNA interference-mediated silencing of PIK3C3 had an opposite effect. Furthermore, PIK3C3 inhibition by inhibitors effectively eliminated liver CSCs and inhibited the growth of tumors in vivo. The phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) pathway is considered an important hallmark of cancer. One of our recent studies found that prolonged inhibition by inhibitors of class I PI3K induces liver CSCs expansion. To our surprise, PIK3C3 inhibition blocked the expansion of CSCs induced by PI3K inhibitor; moreover, treatment with the combination of PIK3C3 inhibitor and PI3K inhibitor in maximal suppresses the expansion of liver CSCs of tumors in mice. Mechanistically, inhibition of PIK3C3 inhibit the activation of SGK3, a CSCs promoter, induced by PI3K inhibitor. We also show that PIK3C3 inhibitor suppresses liver CSCs by activation of the AMP-activated kinase (AMPK). Although PIK3C3 plays a critical role in autophagy, we find that PIK3C3 regulates liver CSCs independent of the autophagy process. These findings uncover the effective suppression of liver CSCs by targeting PIK3C3, and targeting PIK3C3 in combination with PI3K inhibitor inhibits the expansion of liver CSCs efficiently, which is an attractive therapeutic regimen for the treatment of HCC. Show less
In this paper, a novel acidic polysaccharide (CPS-1) was successively prepared from Gynostemma pentaphyllum using hot water isolation method to explore its antitumor and antioxidant activities. Struct Show more
In this paper, a novel acidic polysaccharide (CPS-1) was successively prepared from Gynostemma pentaphyllum using hot water isolation method to explore its antitumor and antioxidant activities. Structural characteristics of CPS-1 were evaluated by SEM, HPGPC, HPAEC-PAD, FT-IR, and NMR. The results indicated: CPS-1 was mainly composed of Ara, Gal, Glc, Xyl, Man, GalA and GlcA in a molar ratio of 1.23:2.14:0.67:0.2:0.29:0.16:0.04 with molecular weight of 3297 kDa. Combining with the results of FT-IR and NMR, it was inferred that CPS-1 was mainly possessed the five main linkages including α-D-Ara, α-D-Gal, α-D-Man, α-D-Xyl and β-D-Glc. Furthermore, MTT results exhibited that the IC Show less
GBM (glioblastoma multiforme) is the most common and aggressive brain tumor with no curative options available. Therefore, it is imperative to develop novel potent therapeutic drugs for GBM treatment. Show more
GBM (glioblastoma multiforme) is the most common and aggressive brain tumor with no curative options available. Therefore, it is imperative to develop novel potent therapeutic drugs for GBM treatment. Here, we show that regorafenib, an oral multi-kinase inhibitor, exhibits superior therapeutic efficacy over temozolomide, the first-line chemotherapeutic agent for GBM treatment both Show less
The melanocortin receptor 4 (MC4R) signaling system consists of MC4R, MC4R ligands [melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH), adrenocorticotropin (ACTH), agouti-related protein (AgRP)], and melanocortin-2 Show more
The melanocortin receptor 4 (MC4R) signaling system consists of MC4R, MC4R ligands [melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH), adrenocorticotropin (ACTH), agouti-related protein (AgRP)], and melanocortin-2 receptor accessory protein 2 (MRAP2), and it has been proposed to play important roles in feeding and growth in vertebrates. However, the expression and functionality of this system have not been fully characterized in teleosts. Here, we cloned tilapia Show less
DUSP6 functions as an important negative feedback component of the MAPK/ERK signaling pathway. Although DUSP6 expression is tightly regulated by ERK1/2 signaling, the molecular mechanism of this regul Show more
DUSP6 functions as an important negative feedback component of the MAPK/ERK signaling pathway. Although DUSP6 expression is tightly regulated by ERK1/2 signaling, the molecular mechanism of this regulation remains partially understood. In this work, we show that the transcriptional repressor CIC functions downstream of the ERK1/2 signaling to negatively regulate DUSP6 expression. CIC directly represses DUSP6 transcription by binding to three Show less
Ping Li, Yu Liu, Qiang He · 2020 · Drug design, development and therapy · added 2026-04-24
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a primary liver cancer with a 5-year incidence of over 70%. Anisodamine (ANI), an alkaloid extracted from HepG2 cells were subcutaneously injected into BALB/C nude mi Show more
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a primary liver cancer with a 5-year incidence of over 70%. Anisodamine (ANI), an alkaloid extracted from HepG2 cells were subcutaneously injected into BALB/C nude mice and the tumor tissue was subcutaneously inoculated to construct the transplanted tumor. Mice were randomly divided into 10 groups (n = 5): control group, ANI-10 group, ANI-50 group, ANI-200 group, ANI-200+pcDNA-NLRP3 group, ANI-200+EV group, sh-NLRP3 group, ANI-200 + sh-NLRP3 group, normal group and normal+ANI-200 group. Studies indicated that ANI inhibited the growth of HCC xenografts and reduced liver damage in a dose-dependent manner. Besides, ANI increased the survival rate of tumor-bearing mice and suppressed the expression of NLRP3 in a dose-dependent manner. It is worth noting that NLRP3 overexpression reversed the inhibitory effect of ANI on HCC xenografts. In addition, TUNEL analysis showed that ANI-induced apoptosis of tumor cells, and NLRP3 overexpression reversed the inhibitory effect of ANI on HCC. Moreover, ANI further regulated the levels of IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-4 and IL-27. Notably, low expression of NLRP3 enhanced the inhibitory effect of ANI on the development of HCC xenografts in mice. These findings indicate that ANI suppressed the growth of HCC cells, induced apoptosis and regulated the levels of inflammatory factors by inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Show less
An AP2 family gene CBX1 is involved in mycorrhizal symbiosis and growth of Lotus japonicus. APETALA 2 (AP2) transcriptional regulator is highly conserved in plants. CBX1 from Lotus japonicus is a memb Show more
An AP2 family gene CBX1 is involved in mycorrhizal symbiosis and growth of Lotus japonicus. APETALA 2 (AP2) transcriptional regulator is highly conserved in plants. CBX1 from Lotus japonicus is a member of AP2 family. AMF (Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi) inoculation experiment demonstrated that expression of CBX1 was significantly induced by AMF. Further promoter analysis showed that the -Â 764 to -Â 498Â bp region of the CBX1 promoter containing CTTC motif is the AMF responsive region. Functional analysis of cbx1 mutant suggested CBX1 is critical for mycorrhizal symbiosis, especially for arbuscule formation. Moreover, under noncolonized condition, overexpression of CBX1 reduced the root length of L. japonicus but increased the size of root system and shoot length, whereas cbx1 mutant reduced the root size and shoot length, but not effect on root length. In addition, cbx1 altered activity of monolignol biosynthetic gene and increased lignin levels. Collectively, these data indicated that CBX1 is a positive regulator of symbiotic activity and plays roles in the growth of L. japonicus. Show less
The Jumonji domain containing 1C (JMJD1C) gene encodes the Jumonji domain-containing protein 1C (JMJD1C) and is a member of the jmJC domain-containing protein family involved in histone demethylation Show more
The Jumonji domain containing 1C (JMJD1C) gene encodes the Jumonji domain-containing protein 1C (JMJD1C) and is a member of the jmJC domain-containing protein family involved in histone demethylation that is expressed in the brain. We report seven, unrelated patients with developmental delays or intellectual disability and heterozygous, de novo sequence variants in JMJD1C. All patients had developmental delays, but there were no consistent additional findings. Two patients were reported to have seizures for which there was no other identified cause. De novo, deleterious sequence variants in JMJD1C have previously been reported in patients with autism spectrum disorder and a phenotype resembling classical Rett syndrome, but only one JMJD1C variant has undergone functional evaluation. In all of the seven patients in this report, there was a plausible, alternative explanation for the neurocognitive phenotype or a modifying factor, such as an additional potentially pathogenic variant, presence of the variant in a population database, heteroplasmy for a mitochondrial variant or mosaicism for the JMJD1C variant. Although the de novo variants in JMJD1C are likely to be relevant to the developmental phenotypes observed in these patients, we conclude that further data supporting the association of JMJD1C variants with intellectual disability is still needed. Show less
APOA5 is a low-abundance exchangeable apolipoprotein that plays critical roles in human triglyceride (TG) metabolism. Indeed, aberrations in the plasma concentration or structure of APOA5 are linked t Show more
APOA5 is a low-abundance exchangeable apolipoprotein that plays critical roles in human triglyceride (TG) metabolism. Indeed, aberrations in the plasma concentration or structure of APOA5 are linked to hypertriglyceridemia, hyperchylomicronemia, myocardial infarction risk, obesity, and coronary artery disease. While it has been successfully produced at low yield in bacteria, the resulting protein had limitations for structure-function studies due to its low solubility under physiological buffer conditions. We hypothesized that the yield and solubility of recombinant APOA5 could be increased by: Show less
Little is known about the correlation between the melanocortin 4 receptor gene (MC4R) single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and the risk of obesity. This research sought to test the MC4R rs17782313, Show more
Little is known about the correlation between the melanocortin 4 receptor gene (MC4R) single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and the risk of obesity. This research sought to test the MC4R rs17782313, rs476828 and rs12970134 SNPs, their haplotypes and gene-environment interactions on the risk of obesity in the Maonan ethnic group, an isolated minority in China. A case-control study comprised of 1836 participants (obesity group, 858; and control group, 978) was conducted. Genotypes of the three SNPs were determined by the next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology. The genotypic frequencies of the three SNPs were different between the obesity and control groups (P <  0.05 for all). The minor allelic frequency of the MC4R rs17782313C, rs476828C and rs12970134A was higher in obesity than in control groups (13.8% vs. 8.3%, P <  0.001, 17.1% vs. 10.9%, P <  0.001; and 15.5% vs. 11.5%, P <  0.001; respectively). Additionally, the dominant model of rs17782313 and rs476828 SNPs revealed an increased morbidity function on the risk of obesity (P <  0.05). A correlation between SNP-environment and the risk of obesity was also observed. The rs17782313C-rs476828C-rs12970134A haplotype was associated with high risk of obesity (OR = 1.796, 95% CI = 1.447-2.229), whereas the rs17782313T-rs476828T-rs12970134G and rs17782313T-rs476828T-rs12970134A haplotypes were associated with low risk of obesity (OR = 0.699, 95% CI = 0.586-0.834 and OR = 0.620, 95% CI = 0.416-0.925; respectively). The interactions between haplotype and waist circumference on the risk of obesity were also noted. We discovered that the MC4R rs17782313, rs476828 and rs12970134 SNPs and their haplotypes were associated with the risk of obesity in the Chinese Maonan population. Show less
Insults to the axons in the optic nerve head are the primary cause of loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) in traumatic, ischemic nerve injury or degenerative ocular diseases. The central nervous sys Show more
Insults to the axons in the optic nerve head are the primary cause of loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) in traumatic, ischemic nerve injury or degenerative ocular diseases. The central nervous system-specific leucine-rich repeat protein, LINGO-1, negatively regulates axon regeneration and neuronal survival after injury. However, the upstream molecular mechanisms that regulate LINGO-1 signaling and contribute to LINGO-1-mediated death of RGCs are unclear. The expression of SP1 was profiled in optic nerve crush (ONC)-injured RGCs. LINGO-1 level was examined after SP1 overexpression by qRT-PCR. Luciferase assay was used to examine the binding of SP1 to the promoter regions of LINGO-1. Primary RGCs from rat retina were isolated by immunopanning and RGCs apoptosis were determined by Tunnel. SP1 and LINGO-1 expression was investigated using immunohistochemistry and Western bolting. Neuroprotection was assessed by RGC counts, RNFL thickness, and VEP tests after inhibition of SP1 shRNA. We demonstrate that SP1 was upregulated in ONC-injured RGCs. SP1 was bound to the LINGO-1 promoter, which led to increased expression of LINGO-1. Treatment with recombinant Nogo-66 or LINGO-1 promoted apoptosis of RGCs cultured under serum-deprivation conditions, while silencing of SP1 promoted the survival of RGCs. SP1 and LINGO-1 colocalized and were upregulated in ONC-injured retinas. Silencing of SP1 in vivo reduced LINGO-1 expression and protected the structure of RGCs from ONC-induced injury, but there was no sign of recovery in VEP. Our findings imply that SP1 regulates LINGO-1 expression in RGCs in the injured retina and provide insight into mechanisms underlying LINGO-1-mediated RGC death in optic nerve injury. Show less
Skin cutaneous melanoma (SKCM) is one of the most aggressive malignancies with high invasiveness. Chromobox (CBX) family are involved in the regulation of the tumorigenesis, progression, invasion, and Show more
Skin cutaneous melanoma (SKCM) is one of the most aggressive malignancies with high invasiveness. Chromobox (CBX) family are involved in the regulation of the tumorigenesis, progression, invasion, and apoptosis of many malignancies. The clinical significance and prognostic value of CBX family in SKCM were analyzed via a series of databases, including ONCOMINE, GEPIA, UALCAN, TIMER, GSCALite, DAVID 6.8, GeneMANIA, and LinkedOmics. We found that the level of CBX2, CBX3, CBX5, and CBX6 was upregulated while the level of CBX7 and CBX8 was downregulated in tumor tissues in SKCM. Moreover, the mRNA expression of CBX1 and CBX2 was significantly associated with the pathological stage in SKCM. Prognosis analysis revealed that SKCM patients with high CBX5 level and low CBX7 level had a poor prognosis. Immune infiltrations analysis revealed that the expression of CBX family was associated with the abundance of certain immune cells in SKCM. We also found that CBX family were associated with the activation of cell cycle pathway and DNA damage response, and the inhibition of apoptosis pathway. Moreover, enrichment analysis revealed that CBX family and correlated genes were enriched in chromatin modification, PcG protein complex, transcription coactivator activity, protein binding, and RNA splicing. Several Kinase targets (ATM, CDK1, and PLK1) and miRNA targets (MIR-331, MIR-296, and MIR-496) of CBX family were also identified. Our study may uncover CBX family-associated molecular mechanisms involved in the tumorigenesis and progression of SKCM and provide additional choice for the prognosis and therapy biomarker for SKCM. Show less
Telmisartan (TLM), a highly selective angiotensin II type 1 receptor blocker (ARB) and partial PPAR-Îł agonist, has versatile beneficial effects against oxidative stress, apoptosis, inflammatory respon Show more
Telmisartan (TLM), a highly selective angiotensin II type 1 receptor blocker (ARB) and partial PPAR-γ agonist, has versatile beneficial effects against oxidative stress, apoptosis, inflammatory responses and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). However, its underlying mechanism of inhibiting oxalate and calcium oxalate (CaOx) crystal-induced EMT by activating the PPAR-γ pathway remains unclear. CCK-8 assays were used to evaluate the effects of TLM on cell viability. In addition, intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were measured by the cell-permeable fluorogenic probe 2,7-dichlorofluorescein diacetate (DCFH-DA). Wound-healing and Transwell assays were used to evaluate the migration ability of HK2 cells exposed to oxalate. Moreover, immunofluorescence, immunohistochemistry and western blotting were used to examine the expression of E-cadherin, N-cadherin, vimentin and α-SMA and explore the underlying molecular mechanisms in HK2 cells and a stone-forming rat model. Our results showed that TLM treatment could protect HK2 cells from oxalate-induced cytotoxicity and oxidative stress injury. Additionally, TLM prevented EMT induction by oxalate and CaOx crystals via the PPAR-γ-AKT/STAT3/p38 MAPK-Snail pathway in vitro and in vivo. However, knockdown of PPAR-γ with small interfering RNA or the PPAR-γ-specific antagonist GW9662 abrogated these protective effects of TLM. As a PPAR-γ agonist, TLM can ameliorate oxalate and CaOx crystal-induced EMT by exerting an antioxidant effect through the PPAR-γ-AKT/STAT3/p38 MAPK-Snail signaling pathway. Therefore, TLM can block EMT progression and could be a potential therapeutic agent for preventing and treating calcium oxalate urolithiasis formation and recurrence. Show less
Scabies is a neglected tropical disease of global significance. Our understanding of host-parasite interactions has been limited, particularly in crusted scabies (CS), a severe clinical manifestation Show more
Scabies is a neglected tropical disease of global significance. Our understanding of host-parasite interactions has been limited, particularly in crusted scabies (CS), a severe clinical manifestation involving hyper-infestation of Sarcoptes scabiei mites. Susceptibility to CS may be associated with immunosuppressive conditions but CS has also been seen in cases with no identifiable risk factor or immune deficit. Due to ethical and logistical difficulties with undertaking research on clinical patients with CS, we adopted a porcine model which parallels human clinical manifestations. Transcriptomic analysis using microarrays was used to explore scabies pathogenesis, and to identify early events differentiating pigs with ordinary (OS) and crusted scabies. Pigs with OS (n = 4), CS (n = 4) and non-infested controls (n = 4) were compared at pre-infestation, weeks 1, 2, 4 and 8 post-infestation. In CS relative to OS, there were numerous differentially expressed genes including pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL17A, IL8, IL19, IL20 and OSM) and chemokines involved in immune cell activation and recruitment (CCL20, CCL27 and CXCL6). The influence of genes associated with immune regulation (CD274/PD-L1 and IL27), immune signalling (TLR2, TLR8) and antigen presentation (RFX5, HLA-5 and HLA-DOB) were highlighted in the early host response to CS. We observed similarities with gene expression profiles associated with psoriasis and atopic dermatitis and confirmed previous observations of Th2/17 pronounced responses in CS. This is the first comprehensive study describing transcriptional changes associated with the development of CS and significantly, the distinction between OS and CS. This provides a basis for clinical follow-up studies, potentially identifying new control strategies for this severely debilitating disease. Show less
Clinical studies have demonstrated that trimetazidine (TMZ) possesses a synergistic hypolipidemic effect together with statins, but the underlying mechanism remains to be elucidated. The present study Show more
Clinical studies have demonstrated that trimetazidine (TMZ) possesses a synergistic hypolipidemic effect together with statins, but the underlying mechanism remains to be elucidated. The present study aimed to investigate the role of TMZ in non‑alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). By investigating the TMZ treatment of NAFLD, it was identified that high‑fat diet (HFD) mice exhibit significant changes in several physiologic indices, including body weight, plasma lipids and glucose tolerance. Notably, hepatocyte bullous steatosis and fibrosis in HFD mice are greatly attenuated by 8 weeks of TMZ treatments. The results of the present study also indicated that the expression of carbohydrate‑responsive element‑binding protein (ChREBP), fatty acid synthase and acetyl‑CoA carboxylase were all significantly reduced in the HFD + TMZ group compared with the HFD group. In order to confirm the hypothesis in vitro, the palmitate‑treated liver cancer cell line (HepG2) was employed and similar results were obtained in TMZ‑treated HepG2 cells. Furthermore, TMZ markedly upregulated the AMP‑activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling pathway and reduced the expression of forkhead box O1 (FOXO1) in the cells, while these effects controlled by TMZ were abolished by the AMPK inhibitor Compound C. The present study reported that knockdown of FOXO1 expression by FOXO1 small interfering RNA resulted in a reduction of ChREBP protein expression and post‑transcriptional activity. In summary, for the first time, to the best of the authors' knowledge, the present study revealed a novel role of TMZ in hepatic steatosis; TMZ ameliorated ChREBP‑induced de novo lipogenesis by activating the AMPK‑FOXO1 pathway. Show less
Bombesin-like receptor 3 (BRS3) is an orphan receptor and Brs3 knockout mice develop obesity with increased food intake and reduced resting metabolic rate and body temperature. The neuronal population Show more
Bombesin-like receptor 3 (BRS3) is an orphan receptor and Brs3 knockout mice develop obesity with increased food intake and reduced resting metabolic rate and body temperature. The neuronal populations contributing to these effects were examined. We studied energy metabolism in mice with Cre-mediated recombination causing 1) loss of BRS3 selectively in SIM1- or MC4R-expressing neurons or 2) selective re-expression of BRS3 from a null background in these neurons. The deletion of BRS3 in MC4R neurons increased body weight/adiposity, metabolic efficiency, and food intake, and reduced insulin sensitivity. BRS3 re-expression in these neurons caused partial or no reversal of these traits. However, these observations were confounded by an obesity phenotype caused by the Mc4r-Cre allele, independent of its recombinase activity. The deletion of BRS3 in SIM1 neurons increased body weight/adiposity and food intake, but not to the levels of the global null. The re-expression of BRS3 in SIM1 neurons reduced body weight/adiposity and food intake, but not to wild type levels. The deletion of BRS3 in either MC4R- or SIM1-expressing neurons affected body temperature, with re-expression in either population reversing the null phenotype. MK-5046, a BRS3 agonist, increases light phase body temperature in wild type, but not Brs3 null, mice and BRS3 re-expression in either population restored response to MK-5046. BRS3 in both MC4R- and SIM1-expressing neurons contributes to regulation of body weight/adiposity, insulin sensitivity, food intake, and body temperature. Show less
Biochanin A (BCA), a dietary isoflavone extracted from red clover and cabbage, has been shown to antagonize hypertension and myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury. However, very little is known about Show more
Biochanin A (BCA), a dietary isoflavone extracted from red clover and cabbage, has been shown to antagonize hypertension and myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury. However, very little is known about its role in atherogenesis. The aim of this study was to observe the effects of BCA on atherosclerosis and explore the underlying mechanisms. Our results showed that administration of BCA promoted reverse cholesterol transport (RCT), improved plasma lipid profile, and decreased serum proinflammatory cytokine levels and atherosclerotic lesion area in apoE Show less
Esophageal cancer is one of the most common cancers worldwide with poor prognosis and high mortality. The transcription factor Expression of Cumulatively, these results establish an important mechanis Show more
Esophageal cancer is one of the most common cancers worldwide with poor prognosis and high mortality. The transcription factor Expression of Cumulatively, these results establish an important mechanism by which decrease in miR-203 expression potentiates metastatic progression in EC via USP26-mediated stabilization of Snail1. Hence, miR-203 can serve as a biomarker of metastasis in EC and is a potential target for therapeutic intervention in EC. Show less