To investigate whether inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) by donepezil ameliorate aberrant retinal neovascularization (RNV) and abnormal glial activation in oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR). A Show more
To investigate whether inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) by donepezil ameliorate aberrant retinal neovascularization (RNV) and abnormal glial activation in oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR). A mouse model of RNV was induced in postnatal day 7 (P7) mice by exposure to 75% oxygen. Donepezil was administrated to P12 mice by intraperitoneal injection. Expression and localization of AChE in mouse retinas were determined by immunofluorescence. RNV was evaluated by paraffin sectioning and hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining. Activation of retinal Müller glial cells were examined by immunoblot of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). rMC-1, a retinal Müller cell line, was used for Aberrant RNV and glial activation was observed after OIR. Of note, retinal AChE was mainly expressed by retinal Müller glial cells and markedly increased in OIR mice. Systemic administration of donepezil significantly reduced RNV and abnormal glial activation in mice with OIR. Moreover, ischemia-induced HIF-1α accumulation and VEGF upregulation in OIR mouse retinas and cultured rMC-1 were significantly inhibited by donepezil intervention. AchE is implicated in RNV with OIR. Inhibition of AChE by donepeizl is likely to be a potential therapeutic approach for retinal neovascular diseases. 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
Bombesin-like receptor 3 (BRS3) is an orphan receptor and Brs3 knockout mice develop obesity with increased food intake and reduced resting metabolic rate and body temperature. The neuronal population Show more
Bombesin-like receptor 3 (BRS3) is an orphan receptor and Brs3 knockout mice develop obesity with increased food intake and reduced resting metabolic rate and body temperature. The neuronal populations contributing to these effects were examined. We studied energy metabolism in mice with Cre-mediated recombination causing 1) loss of BRS3 selectively in SIM1- or MC4R-expressing neurons or 2) selective re-expression of BRS3 from a null background in these neurons. The deletion of BRS3 in MC4R neurons increased body weight/adiposity, metabolic efficiency, and food intake, and reduced insulin sensitivity. BRS3 re-expression in these neurons caused partial or no reversal of these traits. However, these observations were confounded by an obesity phenotype caused by the Mc4r-Cre allele, independent of its recombinase activity. The deletion of BRS3 in SIM1 neurons increased body weight/adiposity and food intake, but not to the levels of the global null. The re-expression of BRS3 in SIM1 neurons reduced body weight/adiposity and food intake, but not to wild type levels. The deletion of BRS3 in either MC4R- or SIM1-expressing neurons affected body temperature, with re-expression in either population reversing the null phenotype. MK-5046, a BRS3 agonist, increases light phase body temperature in wild type, but not Brs3 null, mice and BRS3 re-expression in either population restored response to MK-5046. BRS3 in both MC4R- and SIM1-expressing neurons contributes to regulation of body weight/adiposity, insulin sensitivity, food intake, and body temperature. Show less
Differences in the susceptibility of preterm infants to develop necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) implicate potential genetic differences in response to the inflammatory stimuli leading to NEC. Dual spe Show more
Differences in the susceptibility of preterm infants to develop necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) implicate potential genetic differences in response to the inflammatory stimuli leading to NEC. Dual specificity phosphatases (DUSPs) are a key suppressor pathway of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pro-inflammatory signaling pathway. We hypothesized that inherited single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in DUSP genes contribute to NEC susceptibility in premature infants. Patients admitted between 2010 and 2015 born at < 32 weeks GA and≤1,500 g BW with stage II+NEC (cases; n = 50) and age, weight-matched controls (n = 38) were included. Blood samples were collected for DNA isolation. Agena Mass Array assay was used to examine 31 SNPs in 9 different DUSP genes. Calculated minor allele frequencies (MAF) for cases and controls were compared using χ2 and logistic regression. The presence of the rs704074 SNP was associated with a 48% decreased risk of developing NEC (OR 0.52; 95% CI 0.27- 1.01, p = 0.04). The odds of surgical NEC decreased by 78% (OR 0.22; 95% CI 0.06- 0.84, p = 0.027) for each copy of rs704074/G allele in patients with NEC. In this small single-center pilot study, DUSP-6 SNP (rs704074) was associated with a lower risk of developing NEC and surgical NEC, the most severe form of NEC, in preterm infants. Show less
DUSP6 functions as an important negative feedback component of the MAPK/ERK signaling pathway. Although DUSP6 expression is tightly regulated by ERK1/2 signaling, the molecular mechanism of this regul Show more
DUSP6 functions as an important negative feedback component of the MAPK/ERK signaling pathway. Although DUSP6 expression is tightly regulated by ERK1/2 signaling, the molecular mechanism of this regulation remains partially understood. In this work, we show that the transcriptional repressor CIC functions downstream of the ERK1/2 signaling to negatively regulate DUSP6 expression. CIC directly represses DUSP6 transcription by binding to three Show less
Genome-wide association studies have identified hundreds of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that are associated with BMI and diabetes. However, lack of adequate data has for long time prevented Show more
Genome-wide association studies have identified hundreds of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that are associated with BMI and diabetes. However, lack of adequate data has for long time prevented investigations on the pathogenesis of diabetes where BMI was a mediator of the genetic causal effects on this disease. Of our particular interest is the underlying causal mechanisms of diabetes. We leveraged the summary statistics reported in two studies: UK Biobank (N = 336,473) and Genetic Investigation of ANthropometric Traits (GIANT, N = 339,224) to investigate BMI-mediated genetic causal pathways to diabetes. We first estimated the causal effect of BMI on diabetes by using four Mendelian randomization methods, where a total of 76 independent BMI-associated SNPs (R Show less
Juvenile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (JNCL, aka. juvenile Batten disease or CLN3 disease) is a lysosomal storage disease characterized by progressive blindness, seizures, cognitive and motor failur Show more
Juvenile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (JNCL, aka. juvenile Batten disease or CLN3 disease) is a lysosomal storage disease characterized by progressive blindness, seizures, cognitive and motor failures, and premature death. JNCL is caused by mutations in the Ceroid Lipofuscinosis, Neuronal 3 (CLN3) gene, whose function is unclear. Although traditionally considered a neurodegenerative disease, CLN3 disease displays eye-specific effects: Vision loss not only is often one of the earliest symptoms of JNCL, but also has been reported in non-syndromic CLN3 disease. Here we described the roles of CLN3 protein in maintaining healthy retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and normal vision. Using electroretinogram, fundoscopy and microscopy, we showed impaired visual function, retinal autofluorescent lesions, and RPE disintegration and metaplasia/hyperplasia in a Cln3 ~ 1 kb-deletion mouse model [1] on C57BL/6J background. Utilizing a combination of biochemical analyses, RNA-Seq, Seahorse XF bioenergetic analysis, and Stable Isotope Resolved Metabolomics (SIRM), we further demonstrated that loss of CLN3 increased autophagic flux, suppressed mTORC1 and Akt activities, enhanced AMPK activity, and up-regulated gene expression of the autophagy-lysosomal system in RPE-1 cells, suggesting autophagy induction. This CLN3 deficiency induced autophagy induction coincided with decreased mitochondrial oxygen consumption, glycolysis, the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, and ATP production. We also reported for the first time that loss of CLN3 led to glycogen accumulation despite of impaired glycogen synthesis. Our comprehensive analyses shed light on how loss of CLN3 affect autophagy and metabolism. This work suggests possible links among metabolic impairment, autophagy induction and lysosomal storage, as well as between RPE atrophy/degeneration and vision loss in JNCL. Show less
Melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) plays important roles in regulation of multiple physiological processes, and interaction of MC4R and melanocortin receptor accessory protein 2 (MRAP2) is suggested to pl Show more
Melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) plays important roles in regulation of multiple physiological processes, and interaction of MC4R and melanocortin receptor accessory protein 2 (MRAP2) is suggested to play pivotal role in energy balance of vertebrates. Topmouth culter ( Show less
Imbalanced mitochondrial fission/fusion, a major cause of apoptotic cell death, often results from dysregulation of Drp1 phosphorylation of two serines, S616 and S637. Whereas kinases for Drp1-S616 ph Show more
Imbalanced mitochondrial fission/fusion, a major cause of apoptotic cell death, often results from dysregulation of Drp1 phosphorylation of two serines, S616 and S637. Whereas kinases for Drp1-S616 phosphorylation are well-described, phosphatase(s) for its dephosphorylation remains unclear. Here, we show that dual-specificity phosphatase 6 (DUSP6) dephosphorylates Drp1-S616 independently of its known substrates ERK1/2. DUSP6 keeps Drp1-S616 phosphorylation levels low under normal conditions. The stability and catalytic function of DUSP6 are maintained through conjugation of small ubiquitin-like modifier-1 (SUMO1) and SUMO2/3 at lysine-234 (K234), which is disrupted during oxidation through transcriptional up-regulation of SUMO-deconjugating enzyme, SENP1, causing DUSP6 degradation by ubiquitin-proteasome. deSUMOylation underlies DUSP6 degradation, Drp1-S616 hyperphosphorylation, mitochondrial fragmentation, and apoptosis induced by H Show less
Myeloid-derived growth factor (MYDGF), which is produced by bone marrow-derived cells, mediates cardiac repair following myocardial infarction by inhibiting cardiac myocyte apoptosis to subsequently r Show more
Myeloid-derived growth factor (MYDGF), which is produced by bone marrow-derived cells, mediates cardiac repair following myocardial infarction by inhibiting cardiac myocyte apoptosis to subsequently reduce the infarct size. However, the function of MYDGF in the incretin system of diabetes is still unknown. Here, loss-of-function and gain-of-function experiments in mice revealed that MYDGF maintains glucose homeostasis by inducing glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) production and secretion and that it improves glucose tolerance and lipid metabolism. Treatment with recombinant MYDGF increased the secretion and production of GLP-1 in STC-1 cells in vitro. Mechanistically, the positive effects of MYDGF are potentially attributable to the activation of protein kinase A/glycogen synthase kinase 3β/β-catenin (PKA/GSK-3β/β-catenin) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) kinases/extracellular regulated protein kinase (MEK/ERK) pathways. Based on these findings, MYDGF promotes the secretion and production of GLP-1 in intestinal L-cells and potentially represents a potential therapeutic medication target for type 2 diabetes. Show less
WW domain containing E3 Ub-protein ligase 2 (WWP2) plays an important role in tumor progression as an E3 ligase of PTEN. Here, we investigated the role of WWP2 in gastric cancer (GC). We found that WW Show more
WW domain containing E3 Ub-protein ligase 2 (WWP2) plays an important role in tumor progression as an E3 ligase of PTEN. Here, we investigated the role of WWP2 in gastric cancer (GC). We found that WWP2 is overexpressed in GC tissues, which is closely related to poor prognosis of GC patients. Using a WWP2-shRNA lentivirus expressing system, we established WWP2 stable-knockdown GC cell lines and found that knockdown of WWP2 inhibits the proliferation of GC cells both in vitro and in vivo. Also, WWP2 silencing induced the up-regulation of PTEN protein level and down-regulation of AKT phosphorylation level. We further investigated the role of PTEN in this regulating process by performing rescue assay and found that PTEN is essential for WWP2-mediated regulation of GC cells proliferation. Taken together, our results demonstrated that WWP2 promotes proliferation of GC cells by downregulating PTEN, which may provide new therapeutic targets for GC. 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
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
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
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
Mutations in cardiac myosin binding protein C (MyBP-C, encoded by MYBPC3) are the most common cause of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Most MYBPC3 mutations result in premature termination codons ( Show more
Mutations in cardiac myosin binding protein C (MyBP-C, encoded by MYBPC3) are the most common cause of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Most MYBPC3 mutations result in premature termination codons (PTCs) that cause RNA degradation and a reduction of MyBP-C in HCM patient hearts. However, a reduction in MyBP-C has not been consistently observed in MYBPC3-mutant induced pluripotent stem cell cardiomyocytes (iPSCMs). To determine early MYBPC3 mutation effects, we used patient and genome-engineered iPSCMs. iPSCMs with frameshift mutations were compared with iPSCMs with MYBPC3 promoter and translational start site deletions, revealing that allelic loss of function is the primary inciting consequence of mutations causing PTCs. Despite a reduction in wild-type mRNA in all heterozygous iPSCMs, no reduction in MyBP-C protein was observed, indicating protein-level compensation through what we believe is a previously uncharacterized mechanism. Although homozygous mutant iPSCMs exhibited contractile dysregulation, heterozygous mutant iPSCMs had normal contractile function in the context of compensated MyBP-C levels. Agnostic RNA-Seq analysis revealed differential expression in genes involved in protein folding as the only dysregulated gene set. To determine how MYBPC3-mutant iPSCMs achieve compensated MyBP-C levels, sarcomeric protein synthesis and degradation were measured with stable isotope labeling. Heterozygous mutant iPSCMs showed reduced MyBP-C synthesis rates but a slower rate of MyBP-C degradation. These findings indicate that cardiomyocytes have an innate capacity to attain normal MyBP-C stoichiometry despite MYBPC3 allelic loss of function due to truncating mutations. Modulating MyBP-C degradation to maintain MyBP-C protein levels may be a novel treatment approach upstream of contractile dysfunction for HCM. Show less
Extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) have been implicated as important regulators of metabolic homeostasis. Here we generated a new mouse model with genetic deletion of two ERK1/2 ph Show more
Extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) have been implicated as important regulators of metabolic homeostasis. Here we generated a new mouse model with genetic deletion of two ERK1/2 phosphatases, dual specificity phosphatase (DUSP) 6 and 8, to further define the role of ERK1/2 in obesity development. Dusp6/8 double-null mice demonstrated elevated ERK1/2 phosphorylation in multiple tissues, without any change of phosphorylation of p38 and c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNKs). Elevated ERK1/2 activity in Dusp6/8 double-null mice was associated with larger hearts and other organs, consistent with greater rate of cell proliferation in these mice. However, ERK1/2 activation was not sufficient to protect the mouse hearts from pathological hypertrophy and interstitial fibrosis following angiotensin II and phenylephrine stimulation. Interestingly, mice lacking DUSP6/8 were resistant to high-fat diet-induced obesity. Serum triglyceride, lipid content in the liver and visceral adipose tissues was also dramatically reduced in Dusp6/8 double-null mice. Furthermore, Dusp6/8 double-null mice had improved glucose tolerance. Mechanistically, we found out that elevated ERK1/2 activity increased the expression levels of genes involved in lipid metabolism and glucose homeostasis. Together, our data suggest that ERK1/2 play an essential role for the management of metabolic homeostasis. 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
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
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
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
Human Schlafen 5 (SLFN5) has been reported to inhibit or promote cell invasion in tumours depending on their origin. However, its role in breast cancer (BRCA) is undetermined. Differential expression Show more
Human Schlafen 5 (SLFN5) has been reported to inhibit or promote cell invasion in tumours depending on their origin. However, its role in breast cancer (BRCA) is undetermined. Differential expression analyses using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) data, clinical samples and cell lines were performed. Lentiviral knockdown and overexpression experiments were performed to detect changes in cell morphology, molecular markers and invasion. Chromatin immunoprecipitation-sequencing (ChIP-Seq) and luciferase reporter assays were performed to detect the SLFN5-binding motif. TCGA, clinical samples and cell lines showed that SLFN5 expression was negatively correlated with BRCA metastasis. SLFN5 knockdown induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and enhanced invasion in BRCA cell lines. However, overexpression triggered mesenchymal-epithelial transition (MET). SLFN5 inhibited the expression of ZEB1 but not ZEB2, SNAI1, SNAI2, TWIST1 or TWIST2. Knockdown and overexpression of ZEB1 indicated that it was a mediator of the SLFN5-governed phenotype and invasion changes. Moreover, SLFN5 inhibited ZEB1 transcription by directly binding to the SLFN5-binding motif on the ZEB1 promoter, but a SLFN5 C-terminal deletion mutant did not. SLFN5 regulates reversible epithelial and mesenchymal transitions, and inhibits BRCA metastasis by suppression of ZEB1 transcription, suggesting that SLFN5 could be a potential target for BRCA therapy. Show less
The indistinctive effects of antiangiogenesis agents in gastric cancer (GC) can be attributed to multifaceted gene dysregulation associated with angiogenesis. Angiopoietin-like (ANGPTL) proteins are s Show more
The indistinctive effects of antiangiogenesis agents in gastric cancer (GC) can be attributed to multifaceted gene dysregulation associated with angiogenesis. Angiopoietin-like (ANGPTL) proteins are secreted proteins regulating angiogenesis. They are also involved in inflammation and metabolism. Emerging evidences have revealed their various roles in carcinogenesis and metastasis development. However, the mRNA expression profiles, prognostic values, and biological functions of ANGPTL proteins in GC are still elucidated. We compared the transcriptional expression levels of ANGPTL proteins between GC and normal gastric tissues using ONCOMINE and TCGA-STAD. The prognostic values were evaluated by LinkedOmics and Kaplan-Meier Plotter, while the association of expression levels with clinicopathological features was generated through cBioPortal. We conducted the functional enrichment analysis with Metascape. The expression of ANGPTL1/3/6 was lower in GC tissues than in normal gastric tissues. High expression of ANGPTL1/2/4 was correlated with short overall survival and post-progression survival in GC patients. Upregulated ANGPTL1/2 was correlated with higher histological grade, non-intestinal Lauren classification, and advanced T stage, while ANGPTL4 exhibited high expression in early T stage, M1 stage, and non-intestinal Lauren classification. Integrative bioinformatics analysis suggests that ANGPTL1/2/4 may be potential therapeutic targets in GC patients. Among them, ANGPTL2 acts as a GC promoter, while ANGPTL1/4's role in GC is still uncertain. Show less
Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) modulate a variety of cancerous biological processes, including the promotion of tumorigenicity in tumor parenchymal cells. However, there is a lack of studies assessing Show more
Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) modulate a variety of cancerous biological processes, including the promotion of tumorigenicity in tumor parenchymal cells. However, there is a lack of studies assessing the regulation of lncRNAs in cancer-associated fibroblasts. In the present study, a novel lncRNA, TIRY, was found to act as a miRNA sponge and to downregulate miR-14 expression in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Fluorescence This study demonstrated the novel lncRNA, TIRY, enhances epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in cancer-associated fibroblasts and promotes the metastasis of tumor via miR-14 sponging in oral squamous cell carcinoma, and thus provide a novel molecular mechanism underlying the role of TIRY in CAFs in tumor biology and a potential target in OSCC. Further, the data showed that TIRY expression was negatively correlated with miR-14 transcription levels and was associated with poor prognosis in OSCC specimens. Therefore, TIRY may be a potential prognostic biomarker of overall survival and progression-free survival in OSCC. Moreover, TIRY adds to the understanding of regulatory mechanisms involved in CAFs and epithelial cancer cells in OSCC and may provide novel insights for further understanding tumor biology. Show less
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
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