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
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
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
Ambient ammonia exposure has been known to perturb lipid metabolism in farm animals, but the underlying mechanism is unclear. The current study was conducted to investigate how ambient ammonia exposur Show more
Ambient ammonia exposure has been known to perturb lipid metabolism in farm animals, but the underlying mechanism is unclear. The current study was conducted to investigate how ambient ammonia exposure influences lipid metabolism in the pig model. Twelve pigs were randomly divided into two groups, either exposed to 0 or 35 mg/m 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
Mlxipl regulates glucose metabolism, lipogenesis and tumorigenesis and has a wide-ranging impact on human health and disease. However, the role of Mlxipl in neuropathic pain remains unknown. In this s Show more
Mlxipl regulates glucose metabolism, lipogenesis and tumorigenesis and has a wide-ranging impact on human health and disease. However, the role of Mlxipl in neuropathic pain remains unknown. In this study, we found that Mlxipl was increased in the ipsilateral L4-L6 spinal dorsal horn after Spared Nerve Injury surgery. Knockdown of Mlxipl in the ipsilateral L4-L6 spinal dorsal horn by intraspinal microinjection aggravated Spared Nerve Injury-induced mechanical allodynia and inflammation in the spinal dorsal horn, on the contrary, overexpression of Mlxipl inhibited mechanical allodynia and inflammation. Subsequently, the rat Mlxipl promoter was analyzed using bioinformatics methods to predict the upstream transcription factor cJun. Luciferase assays and ChIP-qPCR confirmed that cJun bound to the promoter of Mlxipl and enhanced its expression. Finally, we demonstrated that Mlxipl inhibited the inflammatory responses of lipopolysaccharide-induced microglia and that Mlxipl was regulated by the transcription factor cJun. These findings suggested that cJun-induced Mlxipl upregulation in the spinal dorsal horn after peripheral nerve injury provided a protective mechanism for the development and progression of neuropathic pain by inhibiting microglial-derived neuroinflammation. Targeting Mlxipl in the spinal dorsal horn might represent an effective strategy for the treatment of neuropathic pain. Show less
Fusobacterium nucleatum, an anaerobic oral opportunistic pathogen associated with periodontitis, has been considered to be associated with the development of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Howev Show more
Fusobacterium nucleatum, an anaerobic oral opportunistic pathogen associated with periodontitis, has been considered to be associated with the development of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). However, the initial host molecular alterations induced by F. nucleatum infection which may promote predisposition to malignant transformation through epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) have not yet been clarified. In the present study, we monitored the ability of F. nucleatum to induce EMT-associated features, and our results showed that F. nucleatum infection promoted cell migration in either noncancerous human immortalized oral epithelial cells (HIOECs) or the two OSCC cell lines SCC-9 and HSC-4, but did not accelerate cell proliferation or cell cycle progression. Mesenchymal markers, including N-cadherin, Vimentin, and SNAI1, were upregulated, while E-cadherin was decreased and was observed to translocate to the cytoplasm. Furthermore, FadA adhesin and heat-inactivated F. nucleatum were found to cause a similar effect as the viable bacterial cells. The upregulated lncRNA MIR4435-2HG identified by the high-throughput sequencing was demonstrated to negatively regulate the expression of miR-296-5p, which was downregulated in F. nucleatum-infected HIOECs and SCC-9 cells. The binding of MIR4435-2HG and miR-296-5p was validated via a dual-luciferase reporter assay. Additionally, knockdown of MIR4435-2HG with siRNA leads to a decrease in SNAI1 expression, while miR-296-5p could further negatively and indirectly regulate SNAI1 expression via Akt2. Therefore, our study demonstrated that F. nucleatum infection could trigger EMT via lncRNA MIR4435-2HG/miR-296-5p/Akt2/SNAI1 signaling pathway, and EMT process may be a probable link between F. nucleatum infection and initiation of oral epithelial carcinomas. Show less
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 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
The metastasis of cervical cancer has always been a clinical challenge. We investigated the effects of low-dose naltrexone (LDN) on the epithelial mesenchymal transition of cervical cancer cells in vi Show more
The metastasis of cervical cancer has always been a clinical challenge. We investigated the effects of low-dose naltrexone (LDN) on the epithelial mesenchymal transition of cervical cancer cells in vitro as well as its influence on macrophage polarization and associated cytokines in vivo. The results suggested that LDN supressed the proliferation, migration and invasion abilities and promote their apoptosis in Hela cells, whereas the opioid growth factor receptor (OGFr) silenced significantly reversed these effects in vitro. Knockdown the expression of OGFr, the inhibitory of LDN on EMT was weakened. LDN could inhibit cervical cancer progression in nude mice. In additon, LDN indirectly reduced the number of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), mainly M2 macrophages, and decreased expression of anti-inflammatory factor IL-10 in the serum of nude mice. These findings demonstrate that LDN could be a potential treatment for cervical cancer. 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
Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) has been considered the standard treatment for intermediate-stage hepatocellular carcinoma according to BCLC algorithm. However, it has been unclear about the TA Show more
Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) has been considered the standard treatment for intermediate-stage hepatocellular carcinoma according to BCLC algorithm. However, it has been unclear about the TACE-related predictive bio-markers and underlying molecular mechanisms. This investigation revealed that HCCs with higher HIF-1α suffered from unfavorable OS after TACE. mRNA expression microarray revealed that HIF-1α was potential target of p-STAT3 which was verified by ChIP and immunoblotting assay. Activation of IL-6/STAT3/HIF-1α signaling was found to promote EMT and chemoresistance to Doxorubicin Show less
Melanocortin-4 receptors (MC4Rs) are key regulators of energy homeostasis and adipose deposition in the central nervous system. Considering that MC4R expression regions and function-related research m Show more
Melanocortin-4 receptors (MC4Rs) are key regulators of energy homeostasis and adipose deposition in the central nervous system. Considering that MC4R expression regions and function-related research mainly focus on the paraventricular nucleus (PVN), little is known about their distribution throughout the mouse brain, although its messenger RNA distribution has been analyzed in the rat. Therefore, MC4R protein localization in mouse neurons was the focus of this study. MC4R protein distribution was assessed in mice through immunofluorescence and Western blotting. MC4R was differentially expressed throughout the arcuate nucleus (ARC), nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS), raphe pallidus (RPa), medial cerebellar nucleus, intermediolateral nucleus, and brainstem. The highest MC4R protein levels were found in the ARC and ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus, while they were significantly lower in the parabrachial nucleus and NTS. The lowest MC4R protein levels were found in the PVN; there was no difference in the protein levels between the area postrema and RPa. These data provide a basic characterization of MC4R-expressing neurons and protein distribution in the mouse brain and may aid further research on its role in energy homeostasis. Show less
Circular RNAs (circRNAs), highly expressed in the central nervous system, are involved in various regulatory processes and implicated in some pathophysiology. However, the potential role of circRNAs i Show more
Circular RNAs (circRNAs), highly expressed in the central nervous system, are involved in various regulatory processes and implicated in some pathophysiology. However, the potential role of circRNAs in psychiatric diseases, particularly major depressive disorder (MDD), remains largely unknown. Here, we demonstrated that circular RNA DYM (circDYM) levels were significantly decreased both in the peripheral blood of patients with MDD and in the two depressive-like mouse models: the chronic unpredictable stress (CUS) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) models. Restoration of circDYM expression significantly attenuated depressive-like behavior and inhibited microglial activation induced by CUS or LPS treatment. Further examination indicated that circDYM functions as an endogenous microRNA-9 (miR-9) sponge to inhibit miR-9 activity, which results in a downstream increase of target-HECT domain E3 ubiquitin protein ligase 1 (HECTD1) expression, an increase of HSP90 ubiquitination, and a consequent decrease of microglial activation. Taken together, the results of our study demonstrate the involvement of circDYM and its coupling mechanism in depression, providing translational evidence that circDYM may be a novel therapeutic target for depression. Show less
Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is the main subtype of esophageal cancer in China, and the prognosis of patients remains poor mainly due to the occurrence of lymph node and distant metastasi Show more
Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is the main subtype of esophageal cancer in China, and the prognosis of patients remains poor mainly due to the occurrence of lymph node and distant metastasis. The long non‑coding RNA (lncRNA) maternally expressed gene 3 (MEG3) has been shown to have tumor‑suppressive properties and to play an important role in epithelial‑to‑mesenchymal transition (EMT) in some solid tumors. However, whether MEG3 is involved in EMT in ESCC remains unclear. In the present study, the MEG3 expression level and its association with tumorigenesis were determined in 43 tumor tissues of patients with ESCC and in ESCC cells using reverse transcription‑quantitative PCR analysis. Gene microarray analysis was performed to detect differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Based on the functional annotation results, the effects of ectopic expression of MEG3 on cell growth, migration, invasion and EMT were assessed. MEG3 expression level was found to be markedly lower in tumor tissues and cells. Statistical analysis revealed that MEG3 expression was significantly negatively associated with lymph node metastasis and TNM stage in ESCC. Fluorescence in situ hybridization assay demonstrated that MEG3 was expressed mainly in the nucleus. Ectopic expression of MEG3 inhibited cell proliferation, migration, invasion and cell cycle progression in EC109 cells. Gene microarray results demonstrated that 177 genes were differentially expressed ≥2.0 fold in MEG3‑overexpressing cells, including 23 upregulated and 154 downregulated genes. Functional annotation revealed that the DEGs were mainly involved in amino acid biosynthetic process, mitogen‑activated protein kinase signaling, and serine and glycine metabolism. Further experiments indicated that the ectopic expression of MEG3 significantly suppressed cell proliferation, migration, invasion and EMT by downregulating phosphoserine aminotransferase 1 (PSAT1). In pathological tissues, PSAT1 and MEG3 were significantly negatively correlated, and high expression of PSAT1 predicted poor survival. Taken together, these results suggest that MEG3 may be a useful prognostic biomarker and may suppress EMT by inhibiting the PSAT1‑dependent glycogen synthase kinase‑3β/Snail signaling pathway in ESCC. Show less
Major depressive disorder is associated with weight loss and decreased appetite; however, the signaling that connects these conditions is unclear. Here, we show that MC
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
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
Cytokines are one of the first immunotherapeutics utilized in trials of human cancers with significant success. However, due to their significant toxicity and often lack of efficacy, cytokines have gi Show more
Cytokines are one of the first immunotherapeutics utilized in trials of human cancers with significant success. However, due to their significant toxicity and often lack of efficacy, cytokines have given their spotlight to other cancer immunotherapeutics such as immune checkpoint inhibitors. Nevertheless, only a subset of cancer patients respond to checkpoint inhibitors. Therefore, developing a novel cytokine-based immunotherapy is still necessary. Among an array of cytokine candidates, IL-27 is a unique one that exhibits clear anti-tumor activity with low toxicity. Systemically delivered IL-27 by adeno-associated virus (AAV-IL-27) is very well tolerized by mice and exhibits potent anti-tumor activity in a variety of tumor models. AAV-IL-27 exerts its anti-tumor activity through directly stimulation of immune effector cells and systemic depletion of Tregs, and is particularly suitable for delivery in combination with checkpoint inhibitors or vaccines. Additionally, AAV-IL-27 can also be delivered locally to tumors to exert its unique actions. In this review, we summarize the evidence that support these points and propose AAV-delivered IL-27 as a potential immunotherapeutic for cancer. Show less
Growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15), a member of the transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) superfamily, is a prognostic biomarker of cervical cancer. In addition, GDF15 has been reported to enhanc Show more
Growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15), a member of the transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) superfamily, is a prognostic biomarker of cervical cancer. In addition, GDF15 has been reported to enhance the migration of colorectal cancer cells and liver cancer stem-like cells. However, the mechanism by which GDF15 promotes cervical cancer cell migration is not completely understood. Here, we report that GDF15 expression is enhanced in cervical cancer tissues, as well as in cultured cervical cancer cells. ShGDF15 transfection markedly inhibited expression of Vimentin, N-cadherin and Snail1, and resulted in up-regulation of E-cadherin expression in HT-3 and HeLa cells. Moreover, knockdown of GDF15 suppressed wound healing rate and reduced the number of invasive cells. Furthermore, knockdown of GDF15 significantly suppressed the expression of phosphorylated Smad2 and Smad3. The addition of TGF-β1 partially abolished the inhibitory effects of GDF15 knockdown on the migration and invasion of cervical cancer cells. In summary, we report here that GDF15 knockdown inhibits migration and invasion of cervical cancer cells in vitro through the TGF-β/Smad2/3/Snail1 pathway. Show less
Macroautophagy/autophagy plays key roles in development, oncogenesis, and cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. Autophagy-specific class III phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase complex I (PtdIns3K-C1) is e Show more
Macroautophagy/autophagy plays key roles in development, oncogenesis, and cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. Autophagy-specific class III phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase complex I (PtdIns3K-C1) is essential for autophagosome formation. However, the regulation of this complex formation requires further investigation. Here, we discovered that STYK1 (serine/threonine/tyrosine kinase 1), a member of the receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) family, is a new upstream regulator of autophagy. We discovered that STYK1 facilitated autophagosome formation in human cells and zebrafish, which was characterized by elevated LC3-II and lowered SQSTM1/p62 levels and increased puncta formation by several marker proteins, such as ATG14, WIPI1, and ZFYVE1. Moreover, we observed that STYK1 directly binds to the PtdIns3K-C1 complex as a homodimer. The binding with this complex was promoted by Tyr191 phosphorylation, by means of which the kinase activity of STYK1 was elevated. We also demonstrated that STYK1 elevated the serine phosphorylation of BECN1, thereby decreasing the interaction between BECN1 and BCL2. Furthermore, we found that STYK1 preferentially facilitated the assembly of the PtdIns3K-C1 complex and was required for PtdIns3K-C1 complex kinase activity. Taken together, our findings provide new insights into autophagy induction and reveal evidence of novel crosstalk between the components of RTK signaling and autophagy. Show less
The advent of base editors (BEs) holds great potential for correcting pathogenic-related point mutations to treat relevant diseases. However, Cas9 nickase (nCas9)-derived BEs lead to DNA double-strand Show more
The advent of base editors (BEs) holds great potential for correcting pathogenic-related point mutations to treat relevant diseases. However, Cas9 nickase (nCas9)-derived BEs lead to DNA double-strand breaks, which can trigger unwanted DNA damage response (DDR). Here, we show that the original version of catalytically dead Cas12a (dCas12a)-conjugated BEs induce a basal level of DNA breaks and minimally activate DDR proteins, including H2AX, ATM, ATR, and p53. By fusing dCas12a with engineered human apolipoprotein B mRNA editing enzyme, catalytic polypeptide-like 3A (APOBEC3A), we further develop the BEACON (base editing induced by human APOBEC3A and Cas12a without DNA break) system to achieve enhanced deamination efficiency and editing specificity. Efficient C-to-T editing is achieved by BEACON in mammalian cells at levels comparable to AncBE4max, with only low levels of DDR and minimal RNA off-target mutations. Importantly, BEACON induces in vivo base editing in mouse embryos, and targeted C-to-T conversions are detected in F0 mice. 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
The central melanocortin system plays a fundamental role in the control of feeding and body weight. Proopiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus (ARC) also regulate ov Show more
The central melanocortin system plays a fundamental role in the control of feeding and body weight. Proopiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus (ARC) also regulate overall glucose homeostasis via insulin-dependent and -independent pathways. Here, we report that a subset of ARC POMC neurons innervate the liver via preganglionic parasympathetic acetylcholine (ACh) neurons in the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus (DMV). Optogenetic stimulation of this liver-projecting melanocortinergic pathway elevates blood glucose levels that is associated with increased expression of hepatic gluconeogenic enzymes in female and male mice. Pharmacological blockade and knockdown of the melanocortin-4 receptor gene in the DMV abolish this stimulation-induced effect. Activation of melanocortin-4 receptors inhibits DMV cholinergic neurons and optogenetic inhibition of liver-projecting parasympathetic cholinergic fibers increases blood glucose levels. This elevated blood glucose is not due to altered pancreatic hormone release. Interestingly, insulin-induced hypoglycemia increases ARC POMC neuron activity. Hence, this liver-projecting melanocortinergic circuit that we identified may play a critical role in the counterregulatory response to hypoglycemia. Show less
Epithelial homeostasis plays an essential role in maintaining endometrial function. But the epithelial role in endometrial fibrosis has been less studied. Previously, we showed that ectopic expression Show more
Epithelial homeostasis plays an essential role in maintaining endometrial function. But the epithelial role in endometrial fibrosis has been less studied. Previously, we showed that ectopic expression of ΔNp63α is associated with fibrosis process and epithelial dysfunction in endometria of patients with intrauterine adhesions (IUAs). Since ΔNp63α is profoundly involved in maintaining the epithelial homeostasis, we hereby focused on its roles in regulating the function and phenotype of endometrial epithelial cells (EECs) in context of endometrial fibrosis. We identified a typical type 2 epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in EECs from IUA patients and this process was induced by the forced expression of ΔNp63α in EECs. In transcriptomic analysis, we found that diverse signaling pathways regulated by ΔNp63α were involved in pro-EMT. We demonstrated that the DUSP4/GSK-3β/SNAI1 pathway was critical in transducing the pro-EMT signals initiated by ΔNp63α, while bFGF reversed ΔNp63α-induced EMT and endometrial fibrosis both in vitro and in vivo by blocking DUSP4/GSK3β/SNAI1 pathway. Taken together, our findings are important to understand the molecular mechanisms of endometrial fibrosis and to provide potential therapeutic targets. 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
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
Visceral obesity and fatty liver are prevalent in postmenopausal women. The stilbene-rich extract of Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp. has been reported to prevent ovariectomy-induced and diet-induced weight Show more
Visceral obesity and fatty liver are prevalent in postmenopausal women. The stilbene-rich extract of Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp. has been reported to prevent ovariectomy-induced and diet-induced weight gain in animal models, and stilbenoids from C. cajan are thought to have the potential to prevent postmenopausal obesity and fatty liver. Cajanolactone A (CLA) is the main stilbenoid from C. cajan with osteoblastogenic promoting activity. This study investigated the potential of CLA to prevent postmenopausal obesity and fatty liver. Underlying mechanisms were also investigated. Ovariectomized C57BL/6 mice fed a regular diet were used as mimics of postmenopausal women and given 10, 20, or 40 mg/kg/d of CLA, 0.1 mg/kg/d of estradiol valerate (EV, positive control), or vehicle (OVX) orally for 16 weeks. Mice of the same age subjected to a sham operation were used as control (Sham). Body weights were recorded every 2 weeks for 16 weeks. Body compositions were analyzed via micro-CT. Serum levels of lipids, adipocytokines and aminotransferases were measured using the relevant kits. mRNA levels of genes of interest were detected by RT-qPCR. Proteomic study of perigonadal white adipose tissue (pWAT) was performed using tandem-mass-tags-based proteomic technology combined with Parallel-Reaction-Monitoring (PRM) validation. CLA showed potential equivalent to that of EV to prevent ovariectomy-induced overweight, obesity, dyslipidemia, liver steatosis and liver dysfunction, but did not prevent uterine atrophy. In the liver, CLA significantly inhibited ovariectomy-induced upregulation in expression of lipogenic genes SREBP-1c and ChREBP, and stimulated the mRNA expression of apolipoprotein B gene ApoB. In pWAT, CLA reversed, or partially reversed ovariectomy-induced downregulation in the expression of a number of metabolism- and mitochondrial-function-related proteins, including Ndufa3, Pcx, Pdhb, Acly, Acaca, Aldh2, Aacs and Echs1. In addition, ovariectomy-inhibited mRNA expression of Pdhb, Aacs, Acsm5, Echs1, and Aldh2 genes in pWAT was also reversed. CLA was demonstrated to be a potential non-estrogen-like drug candidate for prevention of postmenopausal obesity and fatty liver. The underlying mechanism might involve the inhibition of lipogenesis and promotion of triglycerides output in the liver, and the promotion of metabolism and mitochondrial functions of visceral white adipose tissue. Show less