A further understanding of the molecular mechanism of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is necessary to predict a patient's prognosis and develop new targeted gene drugs. This study aims to identify esse Show more
A further understanding of the molecular mechanism of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is necessary to predict a patient's prognosis and develop new targeted gene drugs. This study aims to identify essential genes related to HCC. We used the Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis (WGCNA) and differential gene expression analysis to analyze the gene expression profile of GSE45114 in the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database and The Cancer Genome Atlas database (TCGA). A total of 37 overlapping genes were extracted from four groups of results. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway and Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analyses were performed on the 37 overlapping genes. Then, we used the STRING database to map the protein interaction (PPI) network of 37 overlapping genes. Ten hub genes were screened according to the Maximal Clique Centrality (MCC) score using the Cytohubba plugin of Cytoscape (including FOS, EGR1, EPHA2, DUSP1, IGFBP3, SOCS2, ID1, DUSP6, MT1G, and MT1H). Most hub genes show a significant association with immune infiltration types and tumor stemness of microenvironment in HCC. According to Univariate Cox regression analysis and Kaplan-Meier survival estimation, SOCS2 was positively correlated with overall survival (OS), and IGFBP3 was negatively correlated with OS. Moreover, the expression of IGFBP3 increased with the increase of the clinical stage, while the expression of SOCS2 decreased with the increase of the clinical stage. In conclusion, our findings suggest that SOCS2 and IGFBP3 may play an essential role in the development of HCC and may serve as a potential biomarker for future diagnosis and treatment. 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 35Â mg/m Show less
"Lipotoxicity" induced by free fatty acids (FAs) plays a central role in the pathogenesis of many metabolic diseases, with few treatment options available today. Hydrogen sulfide (H
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
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
Distinguishing between different types of thyroid cancers (TC) remains challenging in clinical laboratories. As different tumor types require different clinical interventions, it is necessary to estab Show more
Distinguishing between different types of thyroid cancers (TC) remains challenging in clinical laboratories. As different tumor types require different clinical interventions, it is necessary to establish new methods for accurate diagnosis of TC. Proteomic analysis of the human serum was performed through data-independent acquisition mass spectrometry for 29 patients with TC (stages I-IV): 13 cases of papillary TC (PTC), 10 cases of medullary TC (MTC), and six cases follicular TC (FTC). In addition, 15 patients with benign thyroid nodules (TNs) and 10 healthy controls (HCs) were included in this study. Subsequently, 17 differentially expressed proteins were identified in 291 patients with TC, including 247 with PTC, 38 with MTC, and six with FTC, and 69 patients with benign TNs and 176 with HC, using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. In total, 517 proteins were detected in the serum samples using an Orbitrap Q-Exactive-plus mass spectrometer. The amyloid beta A4 protein, apolipoprotein A-IV, gelsolin, contactin-1, gamma-glutamyl hydrolase, and complement factor H-related protein 1 (CFHR1) were selected for further analysis. The median serum CFHR1 levels were significantly higher in the MTC and FTC groups than in the PTC and control groups ( CFHR1 may serve as a novel biomarker to distinguish PTC from MTC with high sensitivity and specificity. Show less
Overexpression of eukaryotic translation initiation factor 3H (EIF3H) predicts cancer progression and poor prognosis, but the mechanism underlying EIF3H as an oncogene remains unclear in esophageal sq Show more
Overexpression of eukaryotic translation initiation factor 3H (EIF3H) predicts cancer progression and poor prognosis, but the mechanism underlying EIF3H as an oncogene remains unclear in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). TCGA database and the immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining of ESCC samples were used and determined the upregulation of EIF3H in ESCC. CCK8 assay, colony formation assay and transwell assay were performed to examine the ability of cell proliferation and mobility in KYSE150 and KYSE510 cell lines with EIF3H overexpression or knockdown. Xenograft and tail-vein lung metastatic mouse models of KYSE150 cells with or without EIF3H knockdown were also used to confirm the function of EIF3H on tumor growth and metastasis in vivo. A potential substrate of EIF3H was screened by co-immunoprecipitation assay (co-IP) combined with mass spectrometry in HEK293T cells. Their interaction and co-localization were confirmed using reciprocal co-IP and immunofluorescence staining assay. The function of EIF3H on Snail ubiquitination and stability was demonstrated by the cycloheximide (CHX) pulse-chase assay and ubiquitination assay. The correlation of EIF3H and Snail in clinical ESCC samples was verified by IHC. We found that EIF3H is significantly upregulated in esophageal cancer and ectopic expression of EIF3H in ESCC cell lines promotes cell proliferation, colony formation, migration and invasion. Conversely, genetic inhibition of EIF3H represses ESCC tumor growth and metastasis in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, we identified EIF3H as a novel deubiquitinating enzyme of Snail. We demonstrated that EIF3H interacts with and stabilizes Snail through deubiquitination. Therefore, EIF3H could promote Snail-mediated EMT process in ESCC. In clinical ESCC samples, there is also a positive correlation between EIF3H and Snail expression. Our study reveals a critical EIF3H-Snail signaling axis in tumor aggressiveness in ESCC and provides EIF3H as a promising biomarker for ESCC treatment. Show less
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
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
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
Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are considered critical regulators in cancers; however, the clinical significance and mechanisms of MAPKAPK5-AS1 (hereinafter referred to as MK5-AS1) in colorectal cancer Show more
Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are considered critical regulators in cancers; however, the clinical significance and mechanisms of MAPKAPK5-AS1 (hereinafter referred to as MK5-AS1) in colorectal cancer (CRC) remain mostly unknown. In this study, quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) and western blotting were utilized to detect the levels of MK5-AS1, let-7f-1-3p and MK5 (MAPK activated protein kinase 5) in CRC tissues and cell lines. The biological functions of MK5-AS1, let-7f-1-3p and MK5 in CRC cells were explored using Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK8), colony formation and transwell assays. The potential mechanisms of MK5-AS1 were evaluated by RNA pull-down, RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP), dual luciferase reporter assay, chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) and bioinformatics analysis. The effects of MK5-AS1 and MK5 on CRC were investigated by a xenotransplantation model. We confirmed that MK5-AS1 was significantly increased in CRC tissues. Knockdown of MK5-AS1 suppressed cell migration and invasion in vitro and inhibited lung metastasis in mice. Mechanistically, MK5-AS1 regulated SNAI1 expression by sponging let-7f-1-3p and cis-regulated the adjacent gene MK5. Moreover, MK5-AS1 recruited RBM4 and eIF4A1 to promote the translation of MK5. Our study verified that MK5 promoted the phosphorylation of c-Jun, which activated the transcription of SNAI1 by directly binding to its promoter. MK5-AS1 cis-regulated the nearby gene MK5 and acted as a let-7f-1-3p sponge, playing a vital role in CRC tumorigenesis. This study could provide novel insights into molecular therapeutic targets of CRC. 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
Aim of this study was to identify biomarkers between different grades of bladder cancer (BLCA) and its prognostic value. mRNA expression data from GSE32549 and GSE71576 were extracted for further anal Show more
Aim of this study was to identify biomarkers between different grades of bladder cancer (BLCA) and its prognostic value. mRNA expression data from GSE32549 and GSE71576 were extracted for further analysis. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified using GEO2R web tool. Gene ontology (GO) analysis, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis and protein-protein interaction (PPI) network were conducted to explore the function and relationship of DEGs. The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database was used for external validation and Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) analysis was used to further identify FADS1 pathways. Bladder cancer cells and patient specimens were used to further demonstrate the function of FADS1. Datasets from GEO identified a panel of DEGs. Functional enrichment analysis highlighted that DEGs were associated with nuclear division, spindle, cell cycle and p53 signaling pathway. External validation from TCGA demonstrated that FADS1 was an independent prognostic marker in BLCA patients. In cell lines and tumor specimen analysis, FADS1 was overexpressed in the tumor specimen, compared with adjacent tissues, and positively correlated with tumor grade of BLCA. Moreover, FADS1 could enhance the proliferation ability and influence cell cycle of bladder cancer cells. FADS1 was an independent prognostic biomarker for BLCA and could confer the bladder cancer cells increased proliferation ability. Show less
Interleukin-27 (IL-27) has been reported to inhibit type 2 T helper cell (Th2) response in allergic rhinitis (AR). However, its effects on group II innate lymphoid cells (ILC2) in AR are not fully und Show more
Interleukin-27 (IL-27) has been reported to inhibit type 2 T helper cell (Th2) response in allergic rhinitis (AR). However, its effects on group II innate lymphoid cells (ILC2) in AR are not fully understood. Nineteen patients with AR and nineteen controls were enrolled in this study. The effects of IL-27 on ILC2 differentiation and function as well as the regulation of the IL-27 receptor (IL-27R) were analyzed by tritiated thymidine incorporation, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), respectively. AR mice were used to confirm the role of IL-27 The serum IL-27 protein expression in AR patients was significantly lower compared with controls. IL-27 decreased the ILC2 proliferation and type II cytokine secretion through the interaction with IL-27R. IL-27 also inhibited systemic and nasal ILC2 response of AR mice. IL-27 inhibited the proliferation and function of ILC2 in AR, implying that IL-27 may be used as new treatment target in AR. Show less
The roles of SUMOylation and the related enzymes in autophagic regulation are unclear. Based on our previous studies that identified the SUMO2/3-specific peptidase SENP3 as an oxidative stress-respons Show more
The roles of SUMOylation and the related enzymes in autophagic regulation are unclear. Based on our previous studies that identified the SUMO2/3-specific peptidase SENP3 as an oxidative stress-responsive molecule, we investigated the correlation between SUMOylation and macroautophagy/autophagy. We found that AL: autolysosome; AP: autophagosome; ATG: autophagy related; ATG14: autophagy related 14; BECN1: beclin 1, autophagy related; cKO: conditional knockout; co-IP: co-immunoprecipitation; CQ: chloroquine; EBSS: Earle's balanced salt solution; GFP: green fluorescent protein; MAP1LC3/LC3: microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3; MTOR: mechanistic target of rapamycin kinase; NAC: N-acetyl-L-cysteine; PIK3C3: phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase catalytic subunit type 3; PTM: post-translational modification; RFP: red fluorescent protein; ROS: reactive oxygen species; RUBCN/rubicon: RUN domain and cysteine-rich domain containing, BECN1-interacting protein; SENP3: SUMO specific peptidase 3; shRNA: small hairpin RNA; siRNA: small interfering RNA; SQSTM1: sequestosome 1; SUMO: small ubiquitin-like modifier; UVRAG: UV radiation resistance associated gene. 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
Clinical studies have demonstrated that trimetazidine (TMZ) possesses a synergistic hypolipidemic effect together with statins, but the underlying mechanism remains to be elucidated. The present study Show more
Clinical studies have demonstrated that trimetazidine (TMZ) possesses a synergistic hypolipidemic effect together with statins, but the underlying mechanism remains to be elucidated. The present study aimed to investigate the role of TMZ in non‑alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). By investigating the TMZ treatment of NAFLD, it was identified that high‑fat diet (HFD) mice exhibit significant changes in several physiologic indices, including body weight, plasma lipids and glucose tolerance. Notably, hepatocyte bullous steatosis and fibrosis in HFD mice are greatly attenuated by 8 weeks of TMZ treatments. The results of the present study also indicated that the expression of carbohydrate‑responsive element‑binding protein (ChREBP), fatty acid synthase and acetyl‑CoA carboxylase were all significantly reduced in the HFD + TMZ group compared with the HFD group. In order to confirm the hypothesis in vitro, the palmitate‑treated liver cancer cell line (HepG2) was employed and similar results were obtained in TMZ‑treated HepG2 cells. Furthermore, TMZ markedly upregulated the AMP‑activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling pathway and reduced the expression of forkhead box O1 (FOXO1) in the cells, while these effects controlled by TMZ were abolished by the AMPK inhibitor Compound C. The present study reported that knockdown of FOXO1 expression by FOXO1 small interfering RNA resulted in a reduction of ChREBP protein expression and post‑transcriptional activity. In summary, for the first time, to the best of the authors' knowledge, the present study revealed a novel role of TMZ in hepatic steatosis; TMZ ameliorated ChREBP‑induced de novo lipogenesis by activating the AMPK‑FOXO1 pathway. Show less
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
Ovarian carcinoma ranks fifth in the leading causes of cancer-relevant deaths among the female, with the highest fatality rate in all gynecological malignant tumors and the rising incidence worldwide. Show more
Ovarian carcinoma ranks fifth in the leading causes of cancer-relevant deaths among the female, with the highest fatality rate in all gynecological malignant tumors and the rising incidence worldwide. Mounting evidence has unveiled that lncRNAs are implicated in the tumorigenesis and cancer development. Several studies have proven the carcinogenic role of SNHG8 in various malignancies, but the physiological functions of SNHG8 in ovarian carcinoma need more detailed explanations. The present study certified that inhibition of SNHG8 executed suppressive activities in ovarian carcinoma by obstructing cell proliferation, migration, EMT process and stemness as well as driving cell apoptosis. Moreover, SNHG8 bound with CAPRIN1 and positively modulated the expression of CAPRIN1. Further experiments manifested that CTNNB1 and Axin1 displayed a binding affinity with CAPRIN1. Knockdown of CAPRIN1 promoted the mRNA degradation of CTNNB1 and Axin1. Finally, we corroborated that CTNNB1 (or Axin1) ectopic expression or activation of Wnt/β-catenin pathway abrogated the effects of SNHG8 downregulation on the cellular process of ovarian carcinoma cells. To summarize, SNHG8 acted as an oncogene in ovarian carcinoma via targeting Wnt/β-catenin pathway, providing a new insight into understanding ovarian carcinoma at the molecular level. 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
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
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
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 40Â mg/kg/d of CLA, 0.1Â 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
The existence of cancer stem cells (CSCs) accounts for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treatment resistance, relapse, and metastasis. Although the elimination of cancer stem cells is crucial for cancer Show more
The existence of cancer stem cells (CSCs) accounts for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treatment resistance, relapse, and metastasis. Although the elimination of cancer stem cells is crucial for cancer treatment, strategies for their elimination are limited. Here, we report that a remarkable increase in PIK3C3 was detected in HCC tissues and liver CSCs. Upregulated PIK3C3 facilitated liver CSC expansion in HCC cells; RNA interference-mediated silencing of PIK3C3 had an opposite effect. Furthermore, PIK3C3 inhibition by inhibitors effectively eliminated liver CSCs and inhibited the growth of tumors in vivo. The phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) pathway is considered an important hallmark of cancer. One of our recent studies found that prolonged inhibition by inhibitors of class I PI3K induces liver CSCs expansion. To our surprise, PIK3C3 inhibition blocked the expansion of CSCs induced by PI3K inhibitor; moreover, treatment with the combination of PIK3C3 inhibitor and PI3K inhibitor in maximal suppresses the expansion of liver CSCs of tumors in mice. Mechanistically, inhibition of PIK3C3 inhibit the activation of SGK3, a CSCs promoter, induced by PI3K inhibitor. We also show that PIK3C3 inhibitor suppresses liver CSCs by activation of the AMP-activated kinase (AMPK). Although PIK3C3 plays a critical role in autophagy, we find that PIK3C3 regulates liver CSCs independent of the autophagy process. These findings uncover the effective suppression of liver CSCs by targeting PIK3C3, and targeting PIK3C3 in combination with PI3K inhibitor inhibits the expansion of liver CSCs efficiently, which is an attractive therapeutic regimen for the treatment of HCC. Show less
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
Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a class of endogenous noncoding RNA molecules that lack free 5' and a 3' end poly(A) tail. CircRNAs are enriched in neural tissues, and have been found to be associated wi Show more
Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a class of endogenous noncoding RNA molecules that lack free 5' and a 3' end poly(A) tail. CircRNAs are enriched in neural tissues, and have been found to be associated with various diseases of the central nervous system. This study aimed to examine key circRNAs involved in vascular dementia(VD) model rats. Total RNA-seq profiles of hippocampus samples from normal and vascular dementia rats were extracted and high throughput sequencing was performed. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was used to confirm the circRNA expression profiles. Differential expression of circRNA has been used for analysis via the Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways. The circRNA-miRNA-mRNA network was then constructed. The data of high-throughput sequencing showed that there were 425 circRNAs differentially expressed between VD and normal rats (fold change (FC)≥2.0 and p-value< 0.05). In the VD group, a total of 237 were significantly upwardly revised, while the other 188 were downwardly revised. Eleven of these expressed more than 10 times in the VD model rats. The Expression levels of 10 circRNAs (circ_Map2k5, circ_Ulk2, circ_Plekha5, circ_Plcl1, circ_Sntg1, circ_Morc3, circ_Rims1, circ_ Stxbp5l, circ_ Agtpbp1, circ_Lrrc28) were verified by qPCR, which were persistent with RNA-seq data(P < 0.05). GO analysis indicated that majority of predicted target genes were involved in biological processes, such as cellular processes, nervous system development, etc. Cellular component, such as cellular parts, intracellular parts, cytoplasm and molecular function, such as binding, catalytic activity, etc. Moreover, KEGG analysis showed that many genes were enriched in cholinergic synapses, the MAPK signaling pathways, GABAergic synapses, metabolic pathways, the mTOR signaling pathways, and so on. Our results suggest the involvement of different ncRNA expression patterns in the pathogenesis (are associated with the pathogenesis of VD. Our findings provide a novel perspective for further research into potential mechanisms of VD and might facilitate the development of novel therapeutics targeting ncRNAs. Show less
The ATM serine/threonine kinase (ATM) pathway plays important roles in pancreatic cancer (PanC) development and progression, but the roles of genetic variants of the genes in this pathway in the etiol Show more
The ATM serine/threonine kinase (ATM) pathway plays important roles in pancreatic cancer (PanC) development and progression, but the roles of genetic variants of the genes in this pathway in the etiology of PanC are unknown. In the present study, we assessed associations between 31,499 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 198 ATM pathway-related genes and PanC risk using genotyping data from two previously published PanC genome-wide association studies (GWASs) of 15,423 subjects of European ancestry. In multivariable logistic regression analysis, we identified three novel independent SNPs to be significantly associated with PanC risk [ Show less
APOA5 is a low-abundance exchangeable apolipoprotein that plays critical roles in human triglyceride (TG) metabolism. Indeed, aberrations in the plasma concentration or structure of APOA5 are linked t Show more
APOA5 is a low-abundance exchangeable apolipoprotein that plays critical roles in human triglyceride (TG) metabolism. Indeed, aberrations in the plasma concentration or structure of APOA5 are linked to hypertriglyceridemia, hyperchylomicronemia, myocardial infarction risk, obesity, and coronary artery disease. While it has been successfully produced at low yield in bacteria, the resulting protein had limitations for structure-function studies due to its low solubility under physiological buffer conditions. We hypothesized that the yield and solubility of recombinant APOA5 could be increased by: Show less