Primary cilia are lost during cancer development, but the mechanism regulating cilia degeneration is not determined. While transcription factor nuclear factor-erythroid 2-like 2 (NRF2) protects cells Show more
Primary cilia are lost during cancer development, but the mechanism regulating cilia degeneration is not determined. While transcription factor nuclear factor-erythroid 2-like 2 (NRF2) protects cells from oxidative, proteotoxic, and metabolic stress in normal cells, hyperactivation of NRF2 is oncogenic, although the detailed molecular mechanisms by which uncontrolled NRF2 activation promotes cancer progression remain unclear. Here, we report that NRF2 suppresses hedgehog (Hh) signaling through Patched 1 (PTCH1) and primary ciliogenesis via p62/sequestosome 1 (SQSTM1). PTCH1, a negative regulator of Hh signaling, is an NRF2 target gene, and as such, hyperactivation of NRF2 impairs Hh signaling. NRF2 also suppresses primary cilia formation through p62-dependent inclusion body formation and blockage of Bardet-Biedl syndrome 4 (BBS4) entrance into cilia. Simultaneous ablation of PTCH1 and p62 completely abolishes NRF2-mediated inhibition of both primary ciliogenesis and Hh signaling. Our findings reveal a previously unidentified role of NRF2 in controlling a cellular organelle, the primary cilium, and its associated Hh signaling pathway and also uncover a mechanism by which NRF2 hyperactivation promotes tumor progression via primary cilia degeneration and aberrant Hh signaling. A better understanding of the crosstalk between NRF2 and primary cilia/Hh signaling could not only open new avenues for cancer therapeutic discovery but could also have significant implications regarding pathologies other than cancer, including developmental disorders, in which improper primary ciliogenesis and Hh signaling play a major role. Show less
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common type of cancer worldwide. Metastasis and chemoresistance are regarded as the two leading causes of treatment failure and high mortality in CRC. Forkhea Show more
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common type of cancer worldwide. Metastasis and chemoresistance are regarded as the two leading causes of treatment failure and high mortality in CRC. Forkhead Box M1 (FOXM1) has been involved in malignant behaviors of cancer. However, the role and mechanism of FOXM1 in simultaneously regulating metastasis and chemoresistance of CRC remain poorly understood. Here, we found that FOXM1 was overexpressed in oxaliplatin- and vincristine-resistant CRC cells (HCT-8/L-OHP and HCT-8/VCR) with enhanced metastatic potential, compared with HCT-8 cells. FOXM1 overexpression increased migration, invasion and drug-resistance to oxaliplatin and vincristine in HCT-8 cells, while FOXM1 knockdown using shFOXM1 impaired metastasis and drug-resistance in HCT-8/L-OHP and HCT-8/VCR cells. Moreover, FOXM1 up-regulated Snail to trigger epithelial-mesenchymal transition-like molecular changes and multidrug-resistance protein P-gp expression, while silencing Snail inhibited FOXM1-induced metastasis and drug-resistance. We further identified that disheveled-2 (DVL2) was crucial for FOXM1-induced Snail expression, metastasis and chemoresistance. Furthermore, FOXM1 bound to DVL2, and enhanced nuclear translocation of DVL2 and DVL2-mediated transcriptional activity of Wnt/β-catenin known to induce Snail expression. In conclusion, FOXM1/DVL2/Snail axis triggered aggressiveness of CRC. Blocking FOXM1/DVL2/Snail pathway simultaneously inhibited metastasis and chemoresistance in CRC cells, providing a new strategy for successful CRC treatment. Show less
Li Qin, Arun K Tiwari, Clement C Zai+7 more · 2020 · European neuropsychopharmacology : the journal of the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology · Elsevier · added 2026-04-24
Melanocortin-4-receptor (MC4R) gene codes for a G-protein-coupled receptor that is highly expressed in the hypothalamus and involved in the regulation of appetite. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP Show more
Melanocortin-4-receptor (MC4R) gene codes for a G-protein-coupled receptor that is highly expressed in the hypothalamus and involved in the regulation of appetite. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the MC4R gene region have been associated with obesity, type 2-diabetes (T2D) and with antipsychotic-induced weight gain. Of these, rs17066842 (G>A) in the MC4R promoter region is the top variant associated with obesity and diabetes. In this study, we investigated the effect of rs17066842 on MC4R expression at various glucose concentrations using reporter gene expression in the SH-SY5Y cell line and regulation of MC4R expression in human cerebral organoids. We observed that higher glucose concentrations significantly reduced MC4R mRNA expression in SH-SY5Y cells. In addition, at high glucose concentrations, the luciferase reporter plasmid containing the MC4R promoter insert with the G-allele of rs170066842 showed significantly reduced activity compared to the A-allele carrying plasmid. The immediate early gene product, early growth-response 1 (EGR-1), was identified to bind to the sequence containing the G-allele at rs17066842 but not to the A-allele-containing sequence. Interestingly, in human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived cerebral organoids, we observed increased MC4R expression in response to high glucose exposure. These opposite observations might suggest that glucose regulation is complex and may be cell-specific. This study provides evidence that rs17066842 regulates MC4R gene expression through binding of EGR-1 and that this process is influenced by glucose concentration. 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
Cervical cancer (CC) is one of the most common gynaecological cancers. The gene signature is believed to be reliable for predicting cancer patient survival. However, there is no relevant study on the Show more
Cervical cancer (CC) is one of the most common gynaecological cancers. The gene signature is believed to be reliable for predicting cancer patient survival. However, there is no relevant study on the relationship between the glycolysis-related gene (GRG) signature and overall survival (OS) of patients with CC. We extracted the mRNA expression profiles of 306 tumour and 13 normal tissues from the University of California Santa Cruz (UCSC) Database. Then, we screened out differentially expressed glycolysis-related genes (DEGRGs) among these mRNAs. All patients were randomly divided into training cohort and validation cohort according to the ratio of 7: 3. Next, univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were carried out to select the GRG with predictive ability for the prognosis of the training cohort. Additionally, risk score model was constructed and validated it in the validation cohort. Six mRNAs were obtained that were associated with patient survival. The filtered mRNAs were classified into the protective type (GOT1) and the risk type (HSPA5, ANGPTL4, PFKM, IER3 and PFKFB4). Additionally, by constructing the prognostic risk score model, we found that the OS of the high-risk group was notably poorer, which showed good predictive ability both in training cohort and validation cohort. And the six-gene signature is a prognostic indicator independent of clinicopathological features. Through the verification of PCR, the results showed that compared with the normal cervial tissuses, the expression level of six mRNAs were significantly higher in the CC tissue, which was consistent with our findings. We constructed a glycolysis-related six-gene signature to predict the prognosis of patients with CC using bioinformatics methods. We provide a thorough comprehension of the effect of glycolysis in patients with CC and provide new targets and ideas for individualized treatment. Show less
Cardiovascular diseases represent a complex group of clinical syndromes caused by a variety of interacting pathological factors. They include the most extensive disease population and rank first in al Show more
Cardiovascular diseases represent a complex group of clinical syndromes caused by a variety of interacting pathological factors. They include the most extensive disease population and rank first in all-cause mortality worldwide. Accumulating evidence demonstrates that cytokines play critical roles in the presence and development of cardiovascular diseases. Interleukin-12 family members, including IL-12, IL-23, IL-27 and IL-35, are a class of cytokines that regulate a variety of biological effects; they are closely related to the progression of various cardiovascular diseases, including atherosclerosis, hypertension, aortic dissection, cardiac hypertrophy, myocardial infarction, and acute cardiac injury. This paper mainly discusses the role of IL-12 family members in cardiovascular diseases, and the molecular and cellular mechanisms potentially involved in their action in order to identify possible intervention targets for the prevention and clinical treatment of cardiovascular diseases. Show less
In Saccharomyces cerevisiae under conditions of nutrient stress, meiosis precedes the formation of spores. Although the molecular mechanisms that regulate meiosis, such as meiotic recombination and nu Show more
In Saccharomyces cerevisiae under conditions of nutrient stress, meiosis precedes the formation of spores. Although the molecular mechanisms that regulate meiosis, such as meiotic recombination and nuclear divisions, have been extensively studied, the metabolic factors that determine the efficiency of sporulation are less understood. Here, we have directly assessed the relationship between metabolic stores and sporulation in S. cerevisiae by genetically disrupting the synthetic pathways for the carbohydrate stores, glycogen (gsy1/2Δ cells), trehalose (tps1Δ cells), or both (gsy1/2Δ and tps1Δ cells). We show that storage carbohydrate-deficient strains are highly inefficient in sporulation. Although glycogen and trehalose stores can partially compensate for each other, they have differential effects on sporulation rate and spore number. Interestingly, deletion of the G Show less
Shikonin, the main ingredient of MTT, wound-healing, transwell assays and flow cytometry experiments were used to measure cell growth, migration, invasion, and cell cycle analysis. Western blot was us Show more
Shikonin, the main ingredient of MTT, wound-healing, transwell assays and flow cytometry experiments were used to measure cell growth, migration, invasion, and cell cycle analysis. Western blot was used to examine protein levels of Snail, Vimentin and E-cadherin. The expression level of miR-183-5p was measured via qRT-PCR. The E-cadherin promoter activity was detected via Secrete-PairTM Dual Luminescence Assay Kit. The transient transfection experiments were used for silencing of E-cadherin and overexpression of Snail genes. Tumor xenograft and bioluminescent imaging experiments were carried out to confirm the in vitro findings. We showed that shikonin inhibited cell viability, migration and invasion, and induced cell cycle arrest in a dose-dependent manner in cervical cancer Hela and C33a cells. Mechanistically, we found that shikonin increased miR-183-5p expression and inhibited expression of transcription factor Snail protein. The mimics of miR-183-5p reduced, while the inhibitors of miR-183-5p reversed shikonin-inhibited Snail protein expression. In addition, shikonin decreased Vimentin, increased E-cadherin protein expressions and E-cadherin promoter activity, the latter was reversed in cells transfected with exogenous Snail overexpression vectors. Moreover, silencing of E-cadherin significantly abolished shikonin-inhibited cervical cancer cell growth. Similar findings were also observed in vivo using one xenograft mouse model. Our results show that shikonin inhibits EMT through inhibition of Snail and stimulation of miR-183-5p expressions, which resulted in induction of E-cadherin expression. Thus, blockade of EMT could be a novel mechanism underlying the anti-cervical cancer effects of shikonin. Show less
Mutations in cardiac myosin binding protein C (MyBP-C, encoded by MYBPC3) are the most common cause of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Most MYBPC3 mutations result in premature termination codons ( Show more
Mutations in cardiac myosin binding protein C (MyBP-C, encoded by MYBPC3) are the most common cause of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Most MYBPC3 mutations result in premature termination codons (PTCs) that cause RNA degradation and a reduction of MyBP-C in HCM patient hearts. However, a reduction in MyBP-C has not been consistently observed in MYBPC3-mutant induced pluripotent stem cell cardiomyocytes (iPSCMs). To determine early MYBPC3 mutation effects, we used patient and genome-engineered iPSCMs. iPSCMs with frameshift mutations were compared with iPSCMs with MYBPC3 promoter and translational start site deletions, revealing that allelic loss of function is the primary inciting consequence of mutations causing PTCs. Despite a reduction in wild-type mRNA in all heterozygous iPSCMs, no reduction in MyBP-C protein was observed, indicating protein-level compensation through what we believe is a previously uncharacterized mechanism. Although homozygous mutant iPSCMs exhibited contractile dysregulation, heterozygous mutant iPSCMs had normal contractile function in the context of compensated MyBP-C levels. Agnostic RNA-Seq analysis revealed differential expression in genes involved in protein folding as the only dysregulated gene set. To determine how MYBPC3-mutant iPSCMs achieve compensated MyBP-C levels, sarcomeric protein synthesis and degradation were measured with stable isotope labeling. Heterozygous mutant iPSCMs showed reduced MyBP-C synthesis rates but a slower rate of MyBP-C degradation. These findings indicate that cardiomyocytes have an innate capacity to attain normal MyBP-C stoichiometry despite MYBPC3 allelic loss of function due to truncating mutations. Modulating MyBP-C degradation to maintain MyBP-C protein levels may be a novel treatment approach upstream of contractile dysfunction for HCM. Show less
Metastasis is responsible for 90% of colorectal cancer (CRC)-related deaths. In the present study, we identified a novel key regulator of CRC metastasis, leucine-rich repeats and immunoglobulin-like d Show more
Metastasis is responsible for 90% of colorectal cancer (CRC)-related deaths. In the present study, we identified a novel key regulator of CRC metastasis, leucine-rich repeats and immunoglobulin-like domains protein 3 (LRIG3), which was significantly decreased in CRC tissues and cell lines. Downregulation of LRIG3 was attributed to copy number loss and promoter hypermethylation. Low LRIG3 expression was positively correlated with metastatic clinical features and shorter survival time. Functional experiments showed that knockout of LRIG3 markedly enhanced CRC cell migration and invasion ability, whereas reintroduction of LRIG3 exerted the opposite effects. Regarding the mechanism, LRIG3 could facilitate the binding of DUSP6 to ERK1/2, resulting in the dephosphorylation of ERK1/2 and subsequently downregulation of slug, an epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition trigger, thereby constraining CRC cell motility. Importantly, LRIG3 expression was strongly negatively correlated with slug or p-ERK1/2 expression in CRC tissues. Collectively, our data suggest that LRIG3 is a novel suppressor of CRC metastasis, reactivation of LRIG3 may be a promising therapeutic approach for metastatic CRC patients. Show less
Impaired macroautophagy/autophagy is involved in the pathogenesis of hepatic fibrosis. However, how aberrant autophagy promotes fibrosis is far from understood. Here, we aimed to define a previously u Show more
Impaired macroautophagy/autophagy is involved in the pathogenesis of hepatic fibrosis. However, how aberrant autophagy promotes fibrosis is far from understood. Here, we aimed to define a previously unrevealed pro-fibrotic mechanism for the stress protein TRIB3 (tribbles pseudokinase 3)-mediated autophagy dysfunction. Human fibrotic liver tissues were obtained from patients with cirrhosis who underwent an open surgical repair process. The functional implications of TRIB3 were evaluated in mouse models of hepatic fibrosis induced by bile duct ligation (BDL) or thioacetamide (TAA) injection. Human fibrotic liver tissues expressed higher levels of TRIB3 and selective autophagic receptor SQSTM1/p62 (sequestosome 1) than nonfibrotic tissues and the elevated expression of TRIB3 and SQSTM1 was positively correlated in the fibrotic tissues. Silencing Show less
The DEAH/RHA helicase DHX36 has been linked to cellular RNA and DNA quadruplex structures and to AU-rich RNA elements. In vitro, DHX36 remodels DNA and RNA quadruplex structures and unwinds DNA duplex Show more
The DEAH/RHA helicase DHX36 has been linked to cellular RNA and DNA quadruplex structures and to AU-rich RNA elements. In vitro, DHX36 remodels DNA and RNA quadruplex structures and unwinds DNA duplexes in an ATP-dependent manner. DHX36 contains the superfamily 2 helicase core and several auxiliary domains that are conserved in orthologs of the enzyme. The role of these auxiliary domains for the enzymatic function of DHX36 is not well understood. Here, we combine structural and biochemical studies to define the function of three auxiliary domains that contact nucleic acid. We first report the crystal structure of mouse DHX36 bound to ADP. The structure reveals an overall architecture of mouse DHX36 that is similar to previously reported architectures of fly and bovine DHX36. In addition, our structure shows conformational changes that accompany stages of the ATP-binding and hydrolysis cycle. We then examine the roles of the DHX36-specific motif (DSM), the OB-fold, and a conserved β-hairpin (β-HP) in mouse DHX36 in the remodeling of RNA structures. We demonstrate and characterize RNA duplex unwinding for DHX36 and examine the remodeling of inter- and intramolecular RNA quadruplex structures. We find that the DSM not only functions as a quadruplex binding adaptor but also promotes the remodeling of RNA duplex and quadruplex structures. The OB-fold and the β-HP contribute to RNA binding. Both domains are also essential for remodeling RNA quadruplex and duplex structures. Our data reveal roles of auxiliary domains for multiple steps of the nucleic acid remodeling reactions. Show less
Ying Bai, Zhihui Jiao, Ning Liu+3 more · 2020 · Zhonghua yi xue yi chuan xue za zhi = Zhonghua yixue yichuanxue zazhi = Chinese journal of medical genetics · added 2026-04-24
To detect variants of EXT1 and EXT2 genes among five pedigrees affected with multiple osteochondromas and provide prenatal diagnosis for the families based on the results. The EXT1 and EXT2 genes of t Show more
To detect variants of EXT1 and EXT2 genes among five pedigrees affected with multiple osteochondromas and provide prenatal diagnosis for the families based on the results. The EXT1 and EXT2 genes of the probands were analyzed by targeted next generation sequencing (NGS). Suspected pathological variants were validated by Sanger sequencing in the probands, their family members and 200 unrelated healthy controls. Multiple ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) was used to confirm the presence of gross deletions. Prenatal diagnosis was provided for 2 couples carrying pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants. Five variants were detected in the pedigrees, which included EXT1 exon 2-3 deletion, c.1468dupC (p.Leu490ProfsX31), c.2084delC (p.Pro695LeufsX11), and EXT2 c.187delT (p.Phe63SerfsX29) and c.1362T>G (p.Tyr454X). Among these, EXT1 exon 2-3 deletion, c.2084delC (p.Pro695LeufsX11) and EXT2 c.187delT (p.Phe63SerfsX29) were unreported previously. The three novel variants were not found among unaffected members of the pedigree and the 200 healthy controls. Upon prenatal diagnosis, the two fetuses were found to carry the same variants of the the probands. Pathological variants of the EXT1 and EXT2 genes probably underlie the multiple osteochondromas among the 5 pedigrees. Prenatal diagnosis based on the results can effectively reduce the birth of further offspring affected with the disease. Show less
no PDFDOI: 10.3760/cma.j.issn.1003-9406.2020.07.004
The interleukin-17 (IL-17) family is a relatively new family of cytokines consisting of 6 related factors (IL-17A-IL-17F), while the receptor family consists of 5 members: IL-17RA-IL-17RE. IL-17A is t Show more
The interleukin-17 (IL-17) family is a relatively new family of cytokines consisting of 6 related factors (IL-17A-IL-17F), while the receptor family consists of 5 members: IL-17RA-IL-17RE. IL-17A is the prototype member of this family, which is also the signature cytokine of T helper 17 (Th17) cells. Th17 cells are involved in the development of autoimmune disease, inflammation, and tumors. Although IL-17D is similar to IL-17A in its ability to induce inflammatory cytokine production, there are fewer studies on IL-17D. Recently, the role of IL-17D in tumors and infections has attracted our attention. Some knowledge of function of IL-17D has been gained by studies using nonmammalian species. In this review, we introduce the structural characteristics, expression patterns, and biological characteristics of IL-17D along with its potential function in the pathogenesis of disease. Show less
Epigenetic regulation plays an important role in the development and progression of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). However, the epigenetic mechanisms underlying NPC metastasis remains poorly understo Show more
Epigenetic regulation plays an important role in the development and progression of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). However, the epigenetic mechanisms underlying NPC metastasis remains poorly understood. We aimed to find functional genes which regulate the metastasis of NPC and identify therapeutic targets for NPC treatment. Bisulfite pyrosequencing was used to analyze zinc finger protein 582 (ZNF582) methylation in NPC tissues and cell lines. Quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and Western blotting were used to determine the expression of ZNF582. In vitro and in vivo experiments were performed to evaluate the biological function of ZNF582 in NPC. ZNF582-targeting genes were identified by chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing (ChIP-seq) and were confirmed by ChIP-qPCR and luciferase assay. ZNF582 promoter was hypermethylated in NPC, and both the mRNA and protein levels of ZNF582 were down-regulated in NPC tissues and cell lines. The restoration of ZNF582 inhibited NPC migration, invasion, and metastasis, while the knockdown of ZNF582 promoted NPC migration, invasion, and metastasis in vitro and in vivo. ZNF582 directly regulated the transcription and expression of adhesion molecules Nectin-3 and NRXN3. Both Nectin-3 and NRXN3 were identified as functional targets of ZNF582, and the restoration or abrogation of these genes reversed the tumor suppressor effect of ZNF582 in NPC metastasis. ZNF582 acts as a tumor suppressor gene in NPC by regulating the transcription and expression of adhesion molecules Nectin-3 and NRXN3, which may provide novel therapeutic targets for NPC treatment. Show less
Cancer metastasis is the primary cause of death in patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer. Piperine, an active nontoxic ingredient in pepper, has potent anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties Show more
Cancer metastasis is the primary cause of death in patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer. Piperine, an active nontoxic ingredient in pepper, has potent anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties. However, little is known about the anti-migratory and anti-invasive effects of piperine on colorectal cancer. We demonstrated piperine inhibited the migration and invasion of colorectal cancer cells. Then, we found piperine reversed the biomarker expression of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and suppressed the EMT regulator Snail. Furthermore, signal transducers and activators of transcription 3 (STAT3) was downregulated by piperine. Finally, STAT3 inhibitors were applied to observe the role of STAT3 in colorectal cancer migration, invasion and EMT. Collectively, piperine inhibits colorectal cancer migratory and invasive capacities through STAT3/Snail mediated EMT. Therefore, piperine could be applied as a possible therapeutic regimen for the prevention of colorectal cancer metastasis. Show less
Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) plays a critical role in cancer progression and is primarily regulated by several EMT-inducing transcription factors (EMT-TFs), including TWIST1, TWIST2, SNAI1, Show more
Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) plays a critical role in cancer progression and is primarily regulated by several EMT-inducing transcription factors (EMT-TFs), including TWIST1, TWIST2, SNAI1, SNAI2, ZEB1, and ZEB2. However, the prognostic value of EMT-TFs remains controversial in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Studies on the prognostic role of EMT-TFs in HNSCC were searched for in the Web of Science, Science Direct, Proquest, EMBASE, PubMed, and Cochrane Library. Meta-analysis was performed by using Revman 5.2 software. The pooled analysis showed that overexpression of EMT-TFs indicated a poor overall survival (OS) (HR = 1.93, 95% CI = 1.67-2.23) of HNSCC. Subgroup analysis for individual EMT-TFs revealed that overexpression of TWIST1 (HR = 1.61, 95% CI = 1.29-2.02), SNAI1 (HR = 2.17, 95% CI = 1.63-2.88), SNAI2 (HR = 1.90, 95% CI = 1.38-2.62), and ZEB1 (HR = 2.70, 95% CI = 1.61-4.53) were significantly associated with poor OS of HNSCC. These findings support the hypothesis that overexpression of EMT-TFs indicates a poor prognosis for HNSCC patients. Show less
Recently, long noncoding RNA SNHG12 has been reported to be dysregulated in various types of cancer. This study investigated its biological function and the underlying molecular mechanism in cervical Show more
Recently, long noncoding RNA SNHG12 has been reported to be dysregulated in various types of cancer. This study investigated its biological function and the underlying molecular mechanism in cervical squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC). We found that SNHG12 was significantly overexpressed in CSCC tissues. Further evidence showed that human papillomavirus (HPV) type 16 E6 and E7 might regulate the expression level of SNHG12 by modulating transcription factor c-Myc. Functional experiments suggested that SNHG12 knockdown dramatically repressed CSCC cells proliferation, migration, and invasion while induced apoptosis in vitro as well as suppressed tumor growth in vivo. In addition, SNHG12 could facilitate epithelial-mesenchymal transition through ERK/Slug/E-cadherin pathway at least in part. Our findings highlight SNHG12 functions as an oncogenic long noncoding RNA in malignant phenotype and tumorigenesis of CSCC, which implicate it may be a potential target for CSCC treatment. Show less
The aims of the NYU Children's Health and Environment Study (CHES) are to evaluate influences of prenatal non-persistent chemical exposures on fetal and postnatal growth and pool our data with the US Show more
The aims of the NYU Children's Health and Environment Study (CHES) are to evaluate influences of prenatal non-persistent chemical exposures on fetal and postnatal growth and pool our data with the US National Institutes of Health Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Program to answer collaborative research questions on the impact of the preconceptual, prenatal, and postnatal environment on childhood obesity, neurodevelopment, pre/peri/postnatal outcomes, upper and lower airway outcomes, and positive health. Eligible women were ≥ 18 years old, < 18 weeks pregnant, had a pregnancy that is not medically threatened, and planned to deliver at NYU Langone Hospital-Manhattan, Bellevue Hospital, or NYU Langone Hospital-Brooklyn. Between March 22, 2016 and April 15, 2019, we recruited 2469 pregnant women, from whom 2193 completed an initial questionnaire and continued into NYU CHES. Of the 2193, 88 miscarried, 28 terminated, and 20 experienced stillbirth, while 57 were lost to follow up. We report here demographic and other characteristics of the 2000 live deliveries (2037 children), from whom 1624 (80%) consented to postnatal follow-up. Data collection in pregnancy was nested in clinical care, with questionnaire and specimen collection conducted during routine prenatal visits at < 18, 18-25, and > 25 weeks gestation. These have been followed by questionnaire and specimen collection at birth and regular postpartum intervals. Show less
Increased deposition of silica dust in pulmonary interstitial tissues leads to silicosis, in which autophagy plays a defensive role in silica dust-associated stress response and cell death. Our previo Show more
Increased deposition of silica dust in pulmonary interstitial tissues leads to silicosis, in which autophagy plays a defensive role in silica dust-associated stress response and cell death. Our previous studies revealed that silica dust exposure contributed to autophagy in pulmonary macrophages in vivo, while the specific regulatory mechanism is still unclear. This study aimed to figure out the regulatory mechanism as well as the role of autophagy in the pathogenesis of experimental silicosis. We used 3-methyladenine (3-MA) and ABT-737 to suppress the expression of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase catalytic subunit type 3 (PIK3C3) and B cell leukemia/lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2), two critical initiators of autophagy, and detected and evaluated the autophagy in NR8383 cells with or without silica dust exposure. We found that exposure of silica dust increased autophagy in NR8383 cells and elevated the expression of Beclin1 and PIK3C3, but it reduced the expression of Bcl-2. The relationship among Beclin1, PIK3C3, and Bcl-2 were then investigated using immunoprecipitation analysis, and we found that suppression of PIK3C3 and/or Bcl-2 using 3-MA and/or ABT-737 could alter the autophagy induced by silica dust in NR8383 cells, and the complexes of Beclin1/PIK3C3 and Beclin1/Bcl-2 were both downregulated, which may be that inhibition of PIK3C3 and Bcl-2 altered the affinity of Beclin1 with PIK3C3 and Bcl-2 and lead to the silence of PIK3C3 signaling. These findings indicate that silica dust exposure induces autophagy via changing the connectivity of Beclin1 from Bcl-2 to PIK3C3. Show less
To identify genes involving in the pathogenesis of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). In this study, the comprehensive analysis of GSE8157 was downloaded. Overlapping genes of differentially expressed Show more
To identify genes involving in the pathogenesis of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). In this study, the comprehensive analysis of GSE8157 was downloaded. Overlapping genes of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified, and enrichment analysis for these genes was performed. A modular network of differentially expressed genes was constructed by weighted gene co-expression network analyses (WGCNA), and a total of 322 differentially expressed genes in 5 stable modules were screened. The correlations of genes of the stable modules in BioGRID 3.4, STRING 10.5, HPRD9 databases were screened, and the interaction network of 104 DEGs was constructed. In addition, some genes and the key words were searched in CTD. A total of 596 differentially expressed genes were screened, including 379 genes that were up-regulated in case group and down-regulated in control group and treat group, and 217 genes that were down-regulated in case group and up-regulated in control group and treat group. The differentially expressed genes were enriched in PPAR signaling pathway, Neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction, cAMP signaling pathway, of which pathways were involved in the cancer development. Finally, 7 important target genes were identified, such as APOC3 was interacted with pioglitazone, ADCY2 involved in cAMP signaling pathway, and the genes (C3AR1, HRH2, GRIA1, MLNR and TAAR2) involved in neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction. In addition, the important target genes were significantly differential expression. These results implied that the 7 important target genes were played an important role in the development and progression of PCOS. Our study implied that genes had played a key role in the development and progression of PCOS, the results showed that microarray can be use as a method for the discovery of new biomarkers and therapeutic targets for PCOS. Show less
Vitamin D has a potential anticarcinogenic role, possibly through regulation of cell proliferation and differentiation, stimulation of apoptosis, immune modulation and regulation of estrogen receptor Show more
Vitamin D has a potential anticarcinogenic role, possibly through regulation of cell proliferation and differentiation, stimulation of apoptosis, immune modulation and regulation of estrogen receptor levels. Because breast cancer (BC) risk varies among individuals exposed to similar risk factors, we hypothesize that genetic variants in the vitamin D pathway genes are associated with BC risk. To test this hypothesis, we performed a larger meta-analysis using 14 published GWAS datasets in the Discovery, Biology, and Risk of Inherited Variants in Breast Cancer (DRIVE) Study. We assessed associations between 2,994 (237 genotyped in the DRIVE study and 2,757 imputed from the 1000 Genomes Project) single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 33 vitamin D pathway genes and BC risk. In unconditional logistic regression analysis, we found 11 noteworthy SNPs to be associated with BC risk after multiple comparison correction by the Bayesian false-discovery probability method (<0.80). In stepwise logistic regression analysis, with adjustment for age, principal components and previously published SNPs in the same study populations, we identified three independent SNPs ( Show less
We aimed to identify potential differentially expressed proteins that play roles in the spinal cord injury. The mouse model of spinal cord injury was firstly built, followed by grip strength evaluatio Show more
We aimed to identify potential differentially expressed proteins that play roles in the spinal cord injury. The mouse model of spinal cord injury was firstly built, followed by grip strength evaluation. Then, isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantization (iTRAQ) analysis was used to identify differentially expressed proteins at 1, 2, 3 and 8Â weeks after spinal cord injury. Finally, analysis of spinal cord injury repair related differentially expressed proteins in the early and middle-late stage of injury was performed followed by the functional analysis. The result of grip strength evaluation showed that the motor function of the forelimbs of the mouse was significantly impaired after spinal cord injury. In the iTRAQ analysis, a total of 29 common differentially expressed proteins (such as Hbb-bs, Hba, S100a6, Ca1, Apoa4, Hspb1, Hist1h1c, Hist1h1e, Hbb-b1, Apoa1 and S100a10) were obtained at 1, 2, 3 and 8Â weeks after spinal cord injury. A total of 70 and 180 common differentially expressed proteins were identified in the early and middle-late stage of injury, respectively. PPAR signaling pathway (involved Apoa1) and VEGF signaling pathway (involved Hspb1) were identified in the middle-late stage of spinal cord injury repair. Identified differentially expressed proteins and related signaling pathways may be associated with spinal cord injury. Show less
Metabolic abnormality is the major feature of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC), however, the underlying mechanism remain largely elusive. Fatty acid desaturase 1 (FADS1), as the key rate-limit Show more
Metabolic abnormality is the major feature of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC), however, the underlying mechanism remain largely elusive. Fatty acid desaturase 1 (FADS1), as the key rate-limiting enzyme of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), catalyzes dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid (DGLA) to arachidonic acid (AA). In this study, we reported that the expression of FADS1 was upregulated in LSCC, high FADS1 expression was closely associated with the advanced clinical features and poor prognosis of the recurrent LSCC patients after chemotherapy. Liquid chromatograph-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis revealed that FADS1 overexpression induced greater conversion of DGLA to AA, suggesting an increased activity of FADS1. Similarly, the level of prostaglandin E2 (PGE Show less
Erythrocyte membrane protein band 4.1-like 3 (EPB41L3) is an important membrane skeletal protein that may interact with numerous membrane proteins. Loss of EPB41L3 is reported in multiple cancer types Show more
Erythrocyte membrane protein band 4.1-like 3 (EPB41L3) is an important membrane skeletal protein that may interact with numerous membrane proteins. Loss of EPB41L3 is reported in multiple cancer types, and it is originally identified as a tumor suppressor. In this study, through analyzing expression profiling retrieved from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) dataset, we find that EPB41L3 is upregulated in primary osteosarcoma (OS) and osteosarcoma cell lines. Importantly, EPB41L3 may promote osteosarcoma cell proliferation and suppress osteosarcoma cell migration and invasion. Reduced EPB41L3 leads to a decrease of E-cadherin as well as an increase of N-cadherin and Vimentin, implying a prominent epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. Furthermore, we demonstrate that EPB41L3 inhibits the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition through destabilizing the Snai1 protein, one of the most important transcription factors of the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition process. Collectively, our study has first established the complex and vital roles of EPB41L3 and implicated EPB41L3 as a potential biomarker in osteosarcoma. Show less
Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is one of the severe complications of diabetes. Nowadays, effective treatment for end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients is still limited. HK-2 cells were stimulated with se Show more
Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is one of the severe complications of diabetes. Nowadays, effective treatment for end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients is still limited. HK-2 cells were stimulated with serum from phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) or Jiawei Shuilu Erxiandan (JSE)-treated DN mice, then long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) CLYBL-AS2 was discovered by RNA sequence, following the comparison of the serum from normal patients with DN patients to confirm the role of lncCLYBL-AS2. Next, we performed Show less
Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified common variants for quantitative traits (insulin resistance and impaired insulin release) of type 2 diabetes (T2D) across different ethnics inclu Show more
Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified common variants for quantitative traits (insulin resistance and impaired insulin release) of type 2 diabetes (T2D) across different ethnics including China, but results were inconsistent. The study included 1654 subjects who were selected from the 2010-2012 China National Nutrition and Health Surveillance (CNNHS). Insulin resistance and impaired insulin release were assessed by homeostasis model assessment (HOMA). The study included 64 diabetes-related single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), which were done using Mass ARRAY. A logistic regression model was employed to explore the associations of SNPs with insulin resistance and impaired insulin release by correcting for the confounders. The 5q11.2-rs4432842, RASGRP1-rs7403531, and SEC16B-rs574367 increased the risk of insulin resistance with OR = 1.23 (95% CI: 1.04-1.45, OR = 1.35 (95% CI: 1.13-1.62), OR = 1.34 (95% CI: 1.07-1.67), respectively, while MAEA-rs6815464 decreased the risk of insulin resistance (OR = 0.84, 95% CI: 0.71-1.00). CENTD2-rs1552224, TSPAN8-rs7961581 and ANK1-rs516946 was associated with increased risk of impaired insulin release with OR = 1.47 (95% CI: 1.09-1.99), OR = 1.25 (95% CI: 1.03-1.51), OR = 1.39 (95% CI: 1.07-1.81), respectively. Our findings would provide insight into the pathogenesis of individual SNPs and T2D. Show less
Cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) exists as full-length (FL) and exon 9 (E9)-deleted isoforms. The function of E9-deleted CETP is poorly understood. Here, we investigated the role of E9-delete Show more
Cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) exists as full-length (FL) and exon 9 (E9)-deleted isoforms. The function of E9-deleted CETP is poorly understood. Here, we investigated the role of E9-deleted CETP in regulating the secretion of FL-CETP by cells and explored its possible role in intracellular lipid metabolism. CETP overexpression in cells that naturally express CETP confirmed that E9-deleted CETP is not secreted, and showed that cellular FL- and E9-deleted CETP form an isolatable complex. Coexpression of CETP isoforms lowered cellular levels of both proteins and impaired FL-CETP secretion. These effects were due to reduced synthesis of both isoforms; however, the predominate consequence of FL- and E9-deleted CETP coexpression is impaired FL-CETP synthesis. We reported previously that reducing both CETP isoforms or overexpressing FL-CETP impairs cellular triglyceride (TG) storage. To investigate this further, E9-deleted CETP was expressed in SW872 cells that naturally synthesize CETP and in mouse 3T3-L1 cells that do not. E9-deleted CETP overexpression stimulated SW872 triglyceride synthesis and increased stored TG 2-fold. Expression of E9-deleted CETP in mouse 3T3-L1 cells produced a similar lipid phenotype. In vitro, FL-CETP promotes the transfer of TG from ER-enriched membranes to lipid droplets. E9-deleted CETP also promoted this transfer, although less effectively, and it inhibited the transfer driven by FL-CETP. We conclude that FL- and E9-deleted CETP isoforms interact to mutually decrease their intracellular levels and impair FL-CETP secretion by reducing CETP biosynthesis. E9-deleted CETP, like FL-CETP, alters cellular TG metabolism and storage but in a contrary manner. Show less
Lysyl oxidase‑like 2 (LOXL2), a member of the lysyl oxidase gene family, is involved in the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma progression and metastasis. Increased expression of LOXL2 has been i Show more
Lysyl oxidase‑like 2 (LOXL2), a member of the lysyl oxidase gene family, is involved in the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma progression and metastasis. Increased expression of LOXL2 has been identified in several types of cancer, including hepatocellular carcinoma. Recently, LOXL2 has been reported to promote epithelial‑mesenchymal transition by reducing E‑cadherin expression via the upregulation of Snail expression. The present study provided evidence demonstrating that LOXL2 inhibited the expression of fructose‑1, 6‑biphosphatase (FBP1) and enhanced the glycolysis of Huh7 and Hep3B hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines in a Snail‑dependent manner. Overexpression of the point‑mutated form of LOXL2 [LOXL2(Y689F)], which lacks enzymatic activity, does not affect the expression of Snail1 or FBP1. Notably, targeting extracellular LOXL2 of Huh7 cells with a therapeutic antibody was unable to abolish its regulation on the expression of Snail and FBP1. Knockdown of LOXL2 also interrupted the angiogenesis of Huh7 and Hep3B cells, and this effect could be rescued by the overexpression of Snail. Furthermore, upregulation of hypoxia‑inducible factor 1α (HIF‑1α) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression was observed in Huh7 and Hep3B cells expressing wild‑type LOXL2. Notably, the selective LOXL2 inhibitor LOXL2‑IN‑1 could upregulate the expression of FBP1 and inhibit the expression of Snail, HIF‑1α and VEGF in HCC cells, but not in FBP1‑knockdown cells. The results of the present study indicated that the intracellular activity of LOXL2 upregulated HIF‑1α/VEGF signaling pathways via the Snail‑FBP1 axis, and this phenomenon could be inhibited by LOXL2 inhibition. Collectively, these findings further support that LOXL2 exhibits an important role in the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma and implicates LOXL2 as a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of this disease. Show less