De novo lipogenesis is tightly regulated by insulin and nutritional signals to maintain metabolic homeostasis. Excessive lipogenesis induces lipotoxicity, leading to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease ( Show more
De novo lipogenesis is tightly regulated by insulin and nutritional signals to maintain metabolic homeostasis. Excessive lipogenesis induces lipotoxicity, leading to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and type 2 diabetes. Genetic lipogenic programs have been extensively investigated, but epigenetic regulation of lipogenesis is poorly understood. Here, we identified Slug as an important epigenetic regulator of lipogenesis. Hepatic Slug levels were markedly upregulated in mice by either feeding or insulin treatment. In primary hepatocytes, insulin stimulation increased Slug expression, stability, and interactions with epigenetic enzyme lysine-specific demethylase-1 (Lsd1). Slug bound to the fatty acid synthase (Fasn) promoter where Slug-associated Lsd1 catalyzed H3K9 demethylation, thereby stimulating Fasn expression and lipogenesis. Ablation of Slug blunted insulin-stimulated lipogenesis. Conversely, overexpression of Slug, but not a Lsd1 binding-defective Slug mutant, stimulated Fasn expression and lipogenesis. Lsd1 inhibitor treatment also blocked Slug-stimulated lipogenesis. Remarkably, hepatocyte-specific deletion of Slug inhibited the hepatic lipogenic program and protected against obesity-associated NAFLD, insulin resistance, and glucose intolerance in mice. Conversely, liver-restricted overexpression of Slug, but not the Lsd1 binding-defective Slug mutant, had the opposite effects. These results unveil an insulin/Slug/Lsd1/H3K9 demethylation lipogenic pathway that promotes NAFLD and type 2 diabetes. 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
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
The interleukin-12 (IL-12) family consists of four members, namely, IL-12, IL-23, IL-27, and IL-35. The aim of this study was to examine the expression of circulating IL-12, IL-23, IL-27, and IL-35 in Show more
The interleukin-12 (IL-12) family consists of four members, namely, IL-12, IL-23, IL-27, and IL-35. The aim of this study was to examine the expression of circulating IL-12, IL-23, IL-27, and IL-35 in hypertensive patients. Blood samples were collected from hypertensive patients and nonhypertensive (control) subjects, and protein multifactorial monitor kits were used to measure the plasma IL-12, IL-23, IL-27, and IL-35 levels in each sample. In addition, all enrolled subjects underwent ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) and vascular stiffness. Hypertensive patients exhibited higher IL-12, IL-23, and IL-27 levels and lower IL-35 levels than control subjects; IL-12, IL-23, and IL-27 levels were positively correlated with both systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP), while IL-35 levels were negatively correlated with SBP and DBP. IL-12, IL-23, and IL-27 levels gradually increased in patients with grade I, II, and III hypertension, while IL-35 levels gradually reduced. According to the ABPM results, hypertensive patients were divided into the dipper and nondipper hypertension groups; IL-12, IL-23, IL-27, and IL-35 levels showed no differences between the two groups, but IL-12, IL-23, and IL-27 levels in both groups increased compared with those in the control group, while IL-35 levels decreased. Additionally, the expression of these IL-12 family members was influenced by many clinical factors and was independently associated with the occurrence of carotid atherosclerotic plaques. The changes in IL-12, IL-23, IL-27, and IL-35 levels were not associated with the presence of the nondipper type but were closely associated with the development of carotid atherosclerotic plaque in hypertensive patients. Show less
Dihydroartemisinin (DHA) is currently considered as the promising cancer therapeutic drug. In this study, we aimed to investigate the anti-proliferative and anti-metastasis effects of DHA. Utilizing b Show more
Dihydroartemisinin (DHA) is currently considered as the promising cancer therapeutic drug. In this study, we aimed to investigate the anti-proliferative and anti-metastasis effects of DHA. Utilizing breast cancer cells MCF-7, MDA-MB-231 and BT549, cell proliferation, migration and invasion were detected. RT-qPCR was performed to detect CIZ1, TGF-β1 and Snail expression, and the interactions of these related molecules were analyzed by GeneMANIA database. Western blot detected CIZ1, TGF-β1/Smads signaling and Snail expression in DHA-treated cells, in TGFβ1-induced cells with enhanced metastatic capacity, and in cells treated with DHA plus TGFβ1/TGFβ1 inhibitor SD-208. Results indicated DHA inhibited breast cancer cell proliferation and migration, with more potent effects compared with that of artemisinin. RT-qPCR and Western blot showed DHA inhibited CIZ1, TGF-β1 and Snail expression, and these molecules were shown to have protein-protein interactions by bioinformatics. Furthermore, TGFβ1-treatment enhanced MCF-7 migration and invasion, and CIZ1, TGF-β1/Smads signaling and snail activities; DHA, SD-208, combination of DHA and SD-208 reversed these conditions, preliminarily proving the cascade regulation between TGF-β1 signaling and CIZ1. MCF-7 xenografts model demonstrated the inhibition of DHA on tumor burden, and its mechanisms and well-tolerance in vivo; combination of DHA and SD-208 tried by us for the first time showed better treatment effects, but possible liver impairment made its use still keep cautious. DHA treatment inhibits the proliferation and metastasis of breast cancer, through suppressing TGF-β1/Smad signaling and CIZ1, suggesting the promising potential of DHA as a well-tolerated antitumor TGF-β1 pathway inhibitor. 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
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
Zhi Liu, Fuyun Sun, Zitian Liu+8 more · 2020 · Medical science monitor : international medical journal of experimental and clinical research · added 2026-04-24
BACKGROUND The mechanism by which sleeve gastrectomy (SG) improves glycometabolism has remained unclear so far. Increasing evidence has demonstrated that bone is a regulator of glucose metabolism, and Show more
BACKGROUND The mechanism by which sleeve gastrectomy (SG) improves glycometabolism has remained unclear so far. Increasing evidence has demonstrated that bone is a regulator of glucose metabolism, and osteoblast-derived forkhead box O1 (FoxO1) and lipocalin-2 (LCN2) are regulators of energy metabolism. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the FOXO1/LCN2 signaling pathway is involved in the anti-diabetic effect of SG. MATERIAL AND METHODS Insulin resistance was induced in Wistar rats, which were then intraperitoneally injected with streptozotocin to induce a type 2 diabetic state. Levels of fasting blood glucose, serum insulin, HbA1c, and LCN2 were analyzed at corresponding time points after SG and sham surgeries. The expressions of FOXO1, LCN2, and the melanocortin 4 receptor (MC4R) in bone and hypothalamus were detected by immunofluorescence. FOXO1 siRNA was applied to downregulate FOXO1 expression in osteoblasts of rats. The influence of FOXO1 gene on expression of LCN2 was investigated in cultured osteoblasts by western blot and PCR. RESULTS Glucose metabolism in the SG group was significantly improved. The LCN2 expression in bone in the SG group was higher than that in the sham group, whereas FOXO1 expression in the SG group was lower than that in the sham group. The binding rate of LCN2 and MC4R in the hypothalamus was also higher in the SG group compared with that in the sham group. The downregulation of FOXO1 expression in osteoblasts was accompanied by upregulation of LCN2 expression. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that the FOXO1/LCN2 signaling pathway participates in the anti-diabetic effect of SG. 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
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
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
The β-catenin signaling pathway is one of the most commonly deregulated pathways in cancer cells. Amino acid substitutions within armadillo repeats 5 and 6 (K335, W383, and N387) of β-catenin are foun Show more
The β-catenin signaling pathway is one of the most commonly deregulated pathways in cancer cells. Amino acid substitutions within armadillo repeats 5 and 6 (K335, W383, and N387) of β-catenin are found in several tumor types, including liver tumors. We investigated the mechanisms by which these substitutions increase signaling and the effects on liver carcinogenesis in mice. Plasmids encoding tagged full-length β-catenin (CTNNB1) or β-catenin with the K335I or N387K substitutions, along with MET, were injected into tails of FVB/N mice. Tumor growth was monitored, and livers were collected and analyzed by histology, immunohistochemistry, and quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction. Tagged full-length and mutant forms of β-catenin were expressed in HEK293, HCT116, and SNU449 cells, which were analyzed by immunoblots and immunoprecipitation. A panel of β-catenin variants and cell lines with knock-in mutations were analyzed for differences in N-terminal phosphorylation, half-life, and association with other proteins in the signaling pathway. Mice injected with plasmids encoding K335I or N387K β-catenin and MET developed larger, more advanced tumors than mice injected with plasmids encoding WT β-catenin and MET. K335I and N387K β-catenin bound APC with lower affinity than WT β-catenin but still interacted with scaffold protein AXIN1 and in the nucleus with TCF7L2. This interaction resulted in increased transcription of genes regulated by β-catenin. Studies of protein structures supported the observed changes in relative binding affinities. Expression of β-catenin with mutations in armadillo repeats 5 and 6, along with MET, promotes formation of liver tumors in mice. In contrast to N-terminal mutations in β-catenin that directly impair its phosphorylation by GSK3 or binding to BTRC, the K335I or N387K substitutions increase signaling via reduced binding to APC. However, these mutant forms of β-catenin still interact with the TCF family of transcription factors in the nucleus. These findings show how these amino acid substitutions increase β-catenin signaling in cancer cells. 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
The phenotype via conventional cardiac MRI analysis of MYH7 (β-myosin heavy chain)- and MYBPC3 (β-myosin-binding protein C)-associated hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) groups is similar. Few studies Show more
The phenotype via conventional cardiac MRI analysis of MYH7 (β-myosin heavy chain)- and MYBPC3 (β-myosin-binding protein C)-associated hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) groups is similar. Few studies exist on the genotypic-phenotypic association as assessed by machine learning in HCM patients. To explore the phenotypic differences based on radiomics analysis of T Prospective observational study. In all, 102 HCM patients with pathogenic, or likely pathogenic mutation, in MYH7 (n = 68) or MYBPC3 (n = 34) genes. Cardiac MRI was performed at 3.0T with balanced steady-state free precession (bSSFP), phase-sensitive inversion recovery (PSIR) late gadolinium enhancement (LGE), and modified Look-Locker inversion recovery (MOLLI) T All patients underwent next-generation sequencing and Sanger genetic sequencing. Left ventricular native T Mann-Whitney U-tests and Student's t-tests were performed to assess differences between subgroups. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to assess the model's ability to stratify patients based on radiomic features. There were no significant differences between MYH7- and MYBPC3-associated HCM subgroups based on traditional native T Radiomic analysis of native T 3 TECHNICAL EFFICACY STAGE: 2 J. MAGN. RESON. IMAGING 2020;52:1714-1721. Show less
In dairy cows, fatty liver is one of the most common metabolic diseases that occurs during the periparturient period. Angiopoietin-like protein 4 (ANGPTL4) is a well-known downstream target of peroxis Show more
In dairy cows, fatty liver is one of the most common metabolic diseases that occurs during the periparturient period. Angiopoietin-like protein 4 (ANGPTL4) is a well-known downstream target of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs), which regulate the glucose and fatty acid metabolisms. The inhibition of lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activity interferes with the storage of triglycerides (TG) in adipocytes, which plays an essential role in lipid metabolism in rodents. However, it remains unclear whether ANGPTL4 is involved in the pathological process of fatty liver in dairy cows as a result of the regulation of the hepatocellular lipid transport system. This study intended to investigate the effect of ANGPTL4 on the very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) assembly and secretion in bovine hepatocytes. Bovine hepatocytes were isolated using a modified two-step perfusion and collagenase digestion process, and treated with different concentrations of ANGPTL4 (0, 4, 12, and 24 ng/ml) for 24 hr. The results showed that a high concentration of ANGPTL4 could significantly increase the extracellular concentration of VLDL while reducing the intracellular content of TG. Thus, it was confirmed that ANGPTL4 could promote the transport of TG in the form of VLDL by partially regulating the expression of related proteins in hepatocytes, thereby contributing to the partial adaptive regulation of lipid transport in dairy cows. Show less
Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress is associated with liver inflammation and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, how ER stress links inflammation and HCC remains obscure. Mesencephalic astrocyte-d Show more
Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress is associated with liver inflammation and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, how ER stress links inflammation and HCC remains obscure. Mesencephalic astrocyte-derived neurotrophic factor (MANF) is an ER stress-inducible secretion protein that inhibits inflammation by interacting with the key subunit of nuclear factor kappa light chain enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) p65. We hypothesized that MANF may play a key role in linking ER stress and inflammation in HCC. Here, we found that MANF mRNA and protein levels were lower in HCC tissues versus adjacent noncancer tissues. Patients with high levels of MANF had better relapse-free survival and overall survival rates than those with low levels. MANF levels were also associated with the status of liver cirrhosis, advanced tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) stage, and tumor size. In vitro experiments revealed that MANF suppressed the migration and invasion of hepatoma cells. Hepatocyte-specific deletion of MANF accelerated N-nitrosodiethylamine (DEN)-induced HCC by up-regulating Snail1+2 levels and promoting epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). MANF appeared in the nuclei and was colocalized with p65 in HCC tissues and in tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α)-treated hepatoma cells. The interaction of p65 and MANF was also confirmed by coimmunoprecipitation experiments. Consistently, knockdown of MANF up-regulated NF-κB downstream target genes TNF-α, interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-1α expression in vitro and in vivo. Finally, small ubiquitin-related modifier 1 (SUMO1) promoted MANF nuclear translocation and enhanced the interaction of MANF and p65. Mutation of p65 motifs for SUMOylation abolished the interaction of p65 and MANF. MANF plays an important role in linking ER stress and liver inflammation by inhibiting the NF-κB/Snail signal pathway in EMT and HCC progression. Therefore, MANF may be a cancer suppressor and a potential therapeutic target for HCC. Show less
This study aimed to investigate the role of circ0106714-miR-942-5p-discs large homolog 2 (DLG2), a novel interactome, in colorectal cancer (CRC). Circ0106714 was found to be the most significantly dow Show more
This study aimed to investigate the role of circ0106714-miR-942-5p-discs large homolog 2 (DLG2), a novel interactome, in colorectal cancer (CRC). Circ0106714 was found to be the most significantly downregulated circular RNA in CRC using a bioinformatics method, and we researched whether the ability of circ0106714 to sponge miR-942-5p and release DLG2 could affect CRC development via Hippo-YES-associated protein (YAP) signaling. We first employed qRT-PCR and immunoblotting to detect messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein expression, respectively. Live imaging of mice tumor xenografts was then conducted to study the effect of circ0106714 on tumor progression in vivo. Reporter gene assays were subsequently conducted to verify the predicted targeting relationship between circ0106714, miR-942-5p, and DLG2 mRNA in SW480 and HCT116 cell lines. As well as using flow cytometry for both apoptosis and cell cycle profile analyses, CCK-8 and clone foci formation assays were performed to assess cell survival. Wound healing assay and transwell invasion assay were later carried out to evaluate the migration and invasion of the cell lines. Findings revealed that circ0106714 and DLG2 were significantly downregulated, while miR-942-5p was significantly upregulated in human CRC tissues and cell lines. However, circ0106714 upregulation significantly suppressed tumor progression in vivo and inhibited the malignancy phenotypes of tumor cells in vitro by targeting miR-942-5p. Also discovered in this research was that miR-942-5p could directly target DLG2 mRNA, thus enhancing the malignancy phenotypes of CRC cells. We even found that DLG2 overexpression resulted in enhanced phosphorylation of YAP, a critical downstream effector of DLG2. This downstream effector was demonstrated to have a tumor-suppressive capacity in CRC cell lines. In sum, circ0106714 could suppress CRC by sponging miR-942-5p and releasing DLG2, thus promoting YAP phosphorylation. Show less
Benzo [a]pyrene (BaP) is a well-known endocrine disruptor. Exposure to BaP is known to impair embryo implantation. The corpus luteum (CL), the primary source of progesterone during early pregnancy, pl Show more
Benzo [a]pyrene (BaP) is a well-known endocrine disruptor. Exposure to BaP is known to impair embryo implantation. The corpus luteum (CL), the primary source of progesterone during early pregnancy, plays a pivotal role in embryo implantation and pregnancy maintenance. The inappropriate luteal function may result in implantation failure and spontaneous abortions. However, the effect of BaP on CL remains unknown. This study investigated the deleterious effects of BaP on the structure and function of CL during early pregnancy. Pregnant rats were dosed with BaP at 0.2 mg.kg-1. d from day 1 (D1) to day 9 (D9) of gestation. We found that BaP reduced the number of CLs, disturbed the secretion of steroid and impacted the luteal vascular networks. BaP significantly decreased the angiogenesis factor (VEGFR, Ang-1 and Tie2) and increased the anti-angiogenic factor THBS1. Inhibited THBS1 function by LSKL partially rescued the angiogenesis defect caused by BaP. In vitro, BaP metabolite BPDE also interfered the expression levels of angiogenesis-related factors in HUVECs and impaired the angiogenesis, whereas supplemented with rAng-1 can alleviate the anti-angiogenic effect of BPDE. Furthermore, Notch signaling molecules, including Notch1, Dll4, Jag1 and Hey2, which are essential for the establishment and maturation of vascular networks, were affected by BaP exposure. Collectively, BaP broke the molecular regulatory balance between luteal angiogenesis and vascular maturation, impaired the construction of luteal vascular networks, and further affected luteal formation and endocrine function during early pregnancy. Our findings might provide new insight into the relationship between BaP and luteal insufficiency in early pregnancy. These data also give a new line of evidence for curtailing BaP emissions and protecting the women of childbearing age from occupational exposure. Show less
Type 2 diabetes mellitus plagues many people in China and the world, and its nephritis complication is the leading cause of death for patients. Paecilomyces hepiali contained various functional compon Show more
Type 2 diabetes mellitus plagues many people in China and the world, and its nephritis complication is the leading cause of death for patients. Paecilomyces hepiali contained various functional components, especially polysaccharides, which possesses well pharmacological activities. In this study, polysaccharide purified from Paecilomyces hepiali fermented mycelium entitled PHEA was obtained, and its structure was systemically characterized using fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). In C57BL/KsJ (BKS).Cg-Dock7 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
Estradiol (E2) enhances the anorectic action of apolipoprotein A-IV (apoA-IV), however, the intracellular mechanisms are largely unclear. Here we reported that the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) Show more
Estradiol (E2) enhances the anorectic action of apolipoprotein A-IV (apoA-IV), however, the intracellular mechanisms are largely unclear. Here we reported that the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt signaling pathway was significantly activated by E2 and apoA-IV, respectively, in primary neuronal cells isolated from rat embryonic brainstem. Importantly, the combination of E2 and apoA-IV at their subthreshold doses synergistically activated the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. These effects, however, were significantly diminished by the pretreatment with LY294002, a selective PI3K inhibitor. E2-induced activation of the PI3K/Akt pathway was through membrane-associated ERα, because the phosphorylation of Akt was significantly increased by PPT, an ERα agonist, and by E2-BSA (E2 conjugated to bovine serum albumin) which activates estrogen receptor on the membrane. Centrally administered apoA-IV at a low dose (0.5 µg) significantly suppressed food intake and increased the phosphorylation of Akt in the nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS) of ovariectomized (OVX) rats treated with E2, but not in OVX rats treated with vehicle. These effects were blunted by pretreatment with LY294002. These results indicate that E2's regulatory role in apoA-IV's anorectic action is through the ERα-PI3K pathway in the NTS. Manipulation of the PI3K/Akt signaling activation in the NTS may provide a novel therapeutic approach for the prevention and the treatment of obesity-related disorders in females. Show less
The detailed molecular mechanism of orbital venous malformation (OVM) is still not clear. Using whole exome sequencing, 4 types of melanocortin 4 receptor (MC4R) mutation were detected in 7 of 27 pati Show more
The detailed molecular mechanism of orbital venous malformation (OVM) is still not clear. Using whole exome sequencing, 4 types of melanocortin 4 receptor (MC4R) mutation were detected in 7 of 27 patients with OVM, and all types of MC4R mutations resulted in the upregulation of MC4R expression. Show less
RNF8 (ring finger protein 8), a RING finger E3 ligase best characterized for its role in DNA repair and sperm formation via ubiquitination, has been found to promote tumor metastasis in breast cancer Show more
RNF8 (ring finger protein 8), a RING finger E3 ligase best characterized for its role in DNA repair and sperm formation via ubiquitination, has been found to promote tumor metastasis in breast cancer recently. However, whether RNF8 also plays a role in other types of cancer, especially in lung cancer, remains unknown. We show here that RNF8 expression levels are markedly increased in human lung cancer tissues and negatively correlated with the survival time of patients. Overexpression of RNF8 promotes the EMT process and migration ability of lung cancer cells, while knockdown of RNF8 demonstrates the opposite effects. In addition, overexpression of RNF8 activates the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway, knockdown of RNF8 by siRNA inhibits this activation, and pharmacologic inhibition of PI3K/Akt in RNF8-overexpressing cells also reduces the expression of EMT markers and the ability of migration. Furthermore, RNF8 is found to directly interact with Slug and promoted the K63-Ub of Slug, and knockdown of Slug disrupts RNF8-dependent EMT in A549 cells, whereas overexpression of Slug rescues RNF8-dependent MET in H1299 cells, and depletion of RNF8 expression by shRNA inhibits metastasis of lung cancer cells Show less
Fish of the genus Xiphophorus provide a prominent example of genetic control of male body size and reproductive tactics. In X.nigrensis and X.multilineatus, puberty onset and body length are determine Show more
Fish of the genus Xiphophorus provide a prominent example of genetic control of male body size and reproductive tactics. In X.nigrensis and X.multilineatus, puberty onset and body length are determined by melanocortin 4 receptor (Mc4r) allelic and copy number variations which were proposed to fine-tune the signaling output of the system. Accessory protein Mrap2 is required for growth across species by affecting Mc4r signaling. The molecular mechanism how Mc4r signaling controls puberty regulation in Xiphophorus and whether the interaction with Mrap2 is also involved was so far unclear. Hence, we examined Mc4r and Mrap2 in X.nigrensis and X.multilineatus, in comparison to a more distantly related species, X.hellerii. mc4r and mrap2 transcripts co-localized in the hypothalamus and preoptic regions in large males, small males and females of X.nigrensis, with similar signal strength for mrap2 but higher expression of mc4r in large males. This overexpression is constituted by wild-type and one subtype of mutant alleles. In vitro studies revealed that Mrap2 co-expressed with Mc4r increased cAMP production but did not change EC50. Cells co-expressing the wild-type and one mutant allele showed lower cAMP signaling than Mc4r wild-type cells. This indicates a role of Mc4r alleles, but not Mrap2, in puberty signaling. Different from X.nigrensis and X.multilineatus, X.hellerii has only wild-type alleles, but also shows a puberty onset and body length polymorphism, despite the absence of mutant alleles. Like in the two other species, mc4r and mrap2 transcripts colocalized and mc4r is expressed at substantially higher levels in large males. This demonstrates that puberty and growth regulation mechanism may not be identical even within same genus. Show less
Alcohol intake influences plasma lipid levels, and such effects may be moderated by genetic variants. We aimed to characterize the role of aggregated rare and low-frequency protein-coding variants in Show more
Alcohol intake influences plasma lipid levels, and such effects may be moderated by genetic variants. We aimed to characterize the role of aggregated rare and low-frequency protein-coding variants in gene by alcohol consumption interactions associated with fasting plasma lipid levels. In the Cohorts for Heart and Aging Research in Genomic Epidemiology consortium, fasting plasma triglycerides and high- and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol were measured in 34 153 individuals with European ancestry from 5 discovery studies and 32 277 individuals from 6 replication studies. Rare and low-frequency functional protein-coding variants (minor allele frequency, ≤5%) measured by an exome array were aggregated by genes and evaluated by a gene-environment interaction test and a joint test of genetic main and gene-environment interaction effects. Two dichotomous self-reported alcohol consumption variables, current drinker, defined as any recurrent drinking behavior, and regular drinker, defined as the subset of current drinkers who consume at least 2 drinks per week, were considered. We discovered and replicated 21 gene-lipid associations at 13 known lipid loci through the joint test. Eight loci ( In conclusion, this study applied new gene-based statistical approaches and suggested that rare and low-frequency genetic variants interacted with alcohol consumption on lipid levels. 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
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